Public Art Funding

[ScottRoss]

Currently Kelowna has a minimum funding level of $100,000 for public art a year. Though I value public art and I think it can provide incredible value to our community, I do not support a minimum level at this time. It does not mean that I would vote against any or all recommendations made by the Public Art Committee for art pieces, but with a slowing local economy, I do not believe a default level of funding is appropriate.

I would like to use this forum to ask for opinions on this subject and whether anyone would support increases in public art funding at the expense of either higher property taxes or decreases in city services elsewhere.

I do have a quick poll on my website regarding public art funding: http://scottrossforkelowna.com/

[001TT]

I think there should be a minimum set. And with all the discussions previously on the castanet forums over public art I am surprised that there have been no comments on this post. A lot of people were upset over the choices made for public art, and the costs of them. And a lot of the public I think felt left out of the processes. But this is a very important topic and should be addressed. How important is art in our community? How should we support the artist community? Do we value public art in our community? What sort of voice or input should the public have on art that is placed where we work live and play?

Art always gets the shaft. I personally do not think that is fair, nor do I think that it is a good idea for a long term plan of community. I would enjoy seeing more input on the subject.

[001TT]

I would like to see the candidates weigh in on the subject of public art and what efforts they would make to support it.

[Lady tehMa]

In Castlegar they have a novel approach to public art.

They invite artists to display artwork throughout their downtown for several months. Each one is numbered, and there is a corresponding brochure. There are boxes set around the town, and you - the people! - get to vote for the art YOU like. Then, at the end all votes are tallied, and the piece with the most votes is purchased by the city to be part of their permanent collection. All pieces had a write up which included the cost, should someone be inclined to buy it for themselves. Costs ranged from $2400 to $12,000.

So what do they get out of it? Artists get exposure. The downtown gets a public Art Walk to draw the interest of locals and tourists alike. The City gets a piece of art that MOST people actually want (not like our garbage bear).

I'd like to see our Mayor and Council examine such methodology for aquiring new art. I'd also like to stipulate that perhaps we could limit entries to "local" (BC) artists.

[bones1584]

I understand the need for art but I can rarely justify the cost.
Take the art at the Kelowna side of the bridge, over a million and in a spot that doesn't really work, you are driving and in a corner. Poorly spent taxpaying dollars by the current council in that case. But the Bear is great and can be appreciated so maybe that was good dollars spent.
My thoughts are, that it is better to use private sector dollars for the art but need public money to get the ball rolling. Further the private sector sponsored art would be placed at better locations as they also need the exposure to justify the expense. Then the public wins both ways

[Evan]

Quoted on the 20 dollar bill.

"How could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?"

* Gabrielle Roy

The arts have shaped our history, and our history has shaped the arts.

It is important to fund the arts, our culture and our identity depends upon it.

[marooned]

In a $96 million budget you are taking aim at a FLOOR of $100,000 for municipal art? Hopefully this is only catching 1% of your attention, as it's far less than 1% of the budget.

[Dayleen]

In Castlegar they have a novel approach to public art.

They invite artists to display artwork throughout their downtown for several months. Each one is numbered, and there is a corresponding brochure. There are boxes set around the town, and you - the people! - get to vote for the art YOU like. Then, at the end all votes are tallied, and the piece with the most votes is purchased by the city to be part of their permanent collection. All pieces had a write up which included the cost, should someone be inclined to buy it for themselves. Costs ranged from $2400 to $12,000.

So what do they get out of it? Artists get exposure. The downtown gets a public Art Walk to draw the interest of locals and tourists alike. The City gets a piece of art that MOST people actually want (not like our garbage bear).

I'd like to see our Mayor and Council examine such methodology for aquiring new art. I'd also like to stipulate that perhaps we could limit entries to "local" (BC) artists.

Fantastic idea An art walk is part of my platform. I'd suggested connecting our current cultural area with an art walk path to a new Granville Island type market area downtown. It would work well with the revitalization and would help brand Kelowna.

Make the art a destination not just some random stuff spread around that no one cares about once they see it once.

Imagine strolling along a nice leisure path with a coffee or ice-cream in your hand, looking at art works from "local" artists on your way to a cultural event or to a huge farmers type market like Granville Island. This is something that can can be done 4 seasons and not just for tourists in summer.

Give the winter tourists that stay at Big White something to come to town for and spend some money. You've got all these rich Europeans coming here that never even "see" Kelowna..huge mistake!

Dayleen Van Ryswyk
For Kelowna City Council
www.dayleenvanryswyk.com

[marooned]

The walkway between the Rotary Centre and the Law Courts would be a good candidate for such an Art Walk. It currently has a nice, but admittedly static, agri-centric display already. However, tie this into a visit to the galleries in the Rotary Centre, and a visit to the KAG, and there's your Art Walk!

The big question is, where do we put a market? I would be a fan of a Penticton-style farmer's market downtown on weekends, with Bernard closed from The Sails to Pandosy (through traffic okay). Still, it would be tough to find a permanent home for a Granville Island-style market within the downtown core - unless we remove those Dolphins!

[chrismonroe]

Dayleen; I loved what you said about this when i met you yesterday. The Castlegar idea is great too. Why doesn't council do this? Why are we constantly spoon fed what they think is good for the city. Why no prublic input? I realise they got voted in but for God sake a glow in the dark bear and some weird looking thing by the bridge that looks like some left over chunk of roller coaster ride How does that represent Kelowna?