(A) Establishment. A Public Arts Commission is hereby established.
(B) Definition. For the purpose of this section the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PUBLIC ART.
(a) Within commercial zoning districts, physical artwork which is viewable by the general public, whether on public or private land or buildings, whether owned by an individual or legal business entity of the city.
(b) Physical artwork which is viewable by the general public installed on land owned by the city.
(C) Statement of purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage the display of public art in the city and to provide a mechanism for the inclusion of public art and memorial structures throughout the city primarily in parks and open spaces. Public art can play a vital role in transforming the community.
(1) Generating economic impact:
(a) Attracting new audiences;
(b) Supporting marketing efforts;
(c) Attracting media attention;
(d) Returning dollars to local economy for fabrication and installation; and
(e) Enhancing cultural tourism in our area.
(2) Establishing unique identity:
(a) Giving character to a setting;
(b) Representing the history and importance of a place;
(c) Creating an iconic image for future generations; and
(d) Physically represent our values or aesthetic.
(3) Building community, creating civic pride:
(a) Engaging local stakeholders in planning, design, and execution;
(b) Encouraging community to participate in creating their own public spaces;
(c) Demonstrating the strengths of a community; and
(d) Empowering the individuals who don’t usually have a role in decision- making.
(4) Supporting great art:
(a) Setting the bar for cultural developments;
(b) Demonstrating aesthetic sophistication; and
(c) Attracting artists/activity to our neighborhoods.
(D) Purpose, values, and goals. The mission of Columbia Height’s Public Arts Commission (PAC) is to help enrich the lives of the citizens of, and visitors to, Columbia Heights by strategically integrating public art into city planning, services, design and infrastructure. The following values and goals shall guide the city in making decisions regarding public art. City departments, project committees, panels, the Public Arts Commission, and other interpreters of these goals and values should apply them as appropriate to each project, artists and affected neighborhoods. Review criteria for all policy areas of public art shall be based on these values and goals.
(1) Encourage excellence in the city’s visual design and public arts:
(a) Enhance the aesthetic environment of public places within the city through engaging, unique, and high quality public artworks;
(b) Insure consideration of aesthetic issues in local decision making; and
(c) Recruitment of qualified artists.
(2) Strengthen community identity, place, and assets:
(a) Build awareness of community history, cultures, landscape and the “Minnesota hometown” image;
(b) Develop artworks that are integrated into city building and streetscape/development projects and are compatible with their settings;
(c) Encourage building architecture to be consistent with the character of the area and history of the city; and
(d) Build Columbia Heights to be recognized as a regional cultural center.
(3) Contribute to Columbia Height’s health and vitality:
(a) Promote Columbia Heights as a community that provides its citizens with a high quality of life;
(b) Invite visitors to Columbia Heights as a popular art destination;
(c) Develop mechanisms for encouraging partnerships with and among the city’s neighborhoods, commercial areas, and city’s cultural/heritage organizations;
(d) Provide places for art (lakes, parks, gardens, architecture, facilities, streetscapes, trails, roadways, and art-related enterprises);
(e) Promote working space for artists; and
(f) Develop and maintain safe artworks.
(4) Involve a broad range of people and communities:
(a) Enable opportunities for all citizens, neighborhoods, and organizations to participate in the planning, creation, and equal access to the cultural experiences and artworks;
(b) Preserve and celebrate the city’s diversities of neighborhoods, ethnicity, race, age, religion, and gender; and
(c) Provide pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.
(5) Value artists and artistic processes:
(a) Provide a range of creative opportunities for artists with varying degrees of experience;
(b) Ensure the ongoing integrity of artworks and respect the creative rights of artists; and
(c) Involve artists directly in the concept, design, and creation of artworks.
(6) Use resources wisely:
(a) Develop and manage projects in a cost-effective manner;
(b) Use city funds to leverage private investment in public art and use public art to leverage private investment in other city ventures; and
(c) Secure and utilize the various funding sources available for public art programs.
(E) Responsibility and authority. The Commission serves as an advisory to the City Council.
(Ord. 1613, passed 10-28-13; Am. Ord. 1664, passed 2-22-21)