Public Art Service Study Recommendations

Findings Presented at: The Americans for the Arts 1998 Annual Convention
Denver, CO, June 6, 1998
Prepared for: Americans for the Arts Public Art Interest Group
Prepared by: McGregor Consulting, 140 West 22 Street, New York, NY 10011, T 212.807.0445

Acknowledgements | Introduction | Recommendations | Services 1 | Services 2 | Budget and Funding | Action Plan | Conclusion | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2

Introduction >>>

Acknowledgments
This report was prepared by McGregor Consulting under the direction of Jennifer McGregor with the assistance of Denise Levy. We are grateful to the many people who generously shared their thoughts and ideas with us, and particularly the Steering Committee members who helped form the survey and review the report draft in the final moments before the conference. A special thank you to Mara Walker for coordinating efforts with Americans for the Arts. 

We were overwhelmed by the genuine enthusiasm demonstrated by the many people who took the time to complete the survey. We hope that this interest will develop into true support for the initiative.

Steering Committee Members

• Jessica Cusick, Cultural Arts Council of Greater Houston
• Gretchen Freeman, Freeman/Whitehurst Group
• David Hoyt Johnson, Tuscon Pima Arts Council
• Gordon Church, City of Albuquerque Public Art Programs
• Charlotte Cohen, New York City Percent for Art Program
• Greg Esser, Phoenix Arts Commission
• Gail Goldman, City of San Diego Commission for the Arts
• John G. Grant, Mayor's Office of Art, Culture and Film, Denver
• Barbara Grothus, Albuquerque Arts Alliance
• Eloise MacMurray, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland
• Jill Manton, San Francisco Art Commission
• Vivian Donnell Rodriguez, Metro-Dade County Art in Public Places

Summary of Key Points

Mission

• This organization will be a national, centralized information clearinghouse for the field of public art, providing services for a broad range of members and the information for the general public. It will stimulate discussion of critical issues and serve as a network for communication in this diffuse and multi-faceted field.

Membership

• Membership must open to all practitioners, administrators, artists, consultants, designers, conservators, as well as those with an occasional involvement.
• Dues must be structured to accommodate the ability of the field to pay.
• Membership drives must be inclusive both professionally and geographically, and conducted regularly.
• With a strong electronic network in place, the international participation can be developed.

Organization

• The organization must begin as a subsidiary to national organization. The relationship should be evaluated after three years.
• One dedicated staff person who is at a senior level in the host organization.
• The organization should be guided by an advisory board that is broad based professionally and geographically.
• A strong committee structure will be effective by engaging those with valuable experience, energy and ideas to contribute.

Services

• Services should be focused on getting information to the field and promoting critical discourse.
• Begin with bulletin and web site, expand to distribute and generate studies and reports.
• Seek out partnerships with other groups to initiate and collaborate on more complex services.

Funding

• A substantial commitment is required to get this organization off the ground. This is attainable through in-kind services offered by the host and a focused fundraising effort to attain start up funds.
• The support for the organization must be broad based, but membership can provide a good base of support.

Action Plan

• There is considerable momentum for this initiative, a well organized push is required to take it to the next step.

Introduction >>>