HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-20 Public Comment - M. Pope - Percent for Art ProgramFrom:Maddy Pope
To:Agenda
Subject:Percent for Art Program
Date:Sunday, October 25, 2020 11:01:34 AM
Attachments:City Commission - one percent for the arts.docx
Mayor and City Commissioners,
I write in support of the adoption of a City Ordinance to establish a Percent for
Art Program. As you well know, this has been a community goal expressed in
the City of Bozeman 2018 Strategic Plan.
Investment in art in our community spaces has multiple public benefits:
enhancing our experience of a given space; broadening the connection to art
and culture; supporting local artists and art organizations; and, strengthening
the fabric of the community. On both the individual and community levels, art
enhancements foster a sharing of new ideas and perspectives.
I urge you to put in place a transparent and open process for the selection of
artworks and expenditure of the funds. I also urge that care be taken to support
the placement of art equitably throughout public spaces all across the
community, including our many wonderful City parks and trails. I recognize
that this is not a simple task and will require purposeful attention to process.
The Commission might also consider the use of a small portion of the funds for
programs to engage people around art events and thereby maximize the public
benefit and experience of public art investments.
I would support a dedicated one percent, but defer to the Commission and its
understanding of future City capital improvement projects to best determine the
appropriate percentage to set aside for important investments in public
art. Thank you for your support of this forward-thinking initiative.
Sincerely,
Maddy Pope