A new public art policy will help guide the City of Moose Jaw to acquire and maintain community art and ensure existing works — specifically, murals — are looked after for future generations.
“Public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic, and economic vitality of a community. It also contributes to a community’s identity, fosters community pride and a sense of belonging, and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors,” Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, said during the Feb. 14 regular city council meeting.
The municipality does not have a formal policy to acquire and maintain art, other than the murals program, although that management committee has experienced major turnover and the only remaining member is Coun. Heather Eby, he continued.
A long-term plan is required for public art in the community. That is why a new policy and oversight committee would assist in providing a consistent approach to the acquisition and placement of all public art through purchase, commission, or donation for municipally owned buildings and properties, Blais added.
Blais presented that new public art policy during the council meeting and council voted unanimously to adopt the document.
The parks and recreation department drafted the policy with feedback from the executive committee, strategic leadership, the parks advisory committee, museum and art gallery staff, and long-time community murals artist Grant McLaughlin, Blais said.
The new policy includes sections about its purpose; definitions about public art, murals, the oversight committee, the art fund, artists, and acquisitions; policy objectives and guiding principles; and the policy’s scope, including funding, the murals program, art donations, third-party organization initiatives, public and sector initiatives.
The policy also includes sections about procedures to acquire, plan for, maintain, relocate and de-accession art, and reviewing and evaluating the policy; and responsibilities of the oversight committee, council, the city manager, and city departments.
No additional money will be needed for this new policy because the annual funding given to the murals committee will be allocated to the public art fund, said Blais. The murals committee has carried forward $19,675 from 2021, while it received $6,475 in the 2022 budget. This will provide an initial budget of $26,150.
The new art policy will see 30 per cent of that fund dedicated to new public art and 70 per cent to maintain and plan for new art, he added. This means $7,850 will be used this year for new purchases and $18,300 will help maintain and repair existing artwork.
“I totally support this policy. I think it’s exciting and it’s going to freshen things up as far as the murals committee and hopefully breathe new life into that,” said Eby. “Public art absolutely adds value, character and culture to any community and will do that to ours. … I think there’s some great spots around the city that will be enhanced with different kinds of public art.”
“And as a long-time supporter of the murals, I think it’s really important that in this policy and bylaw that the murals will still be maintained, as well as new murals can be added to the current collection. That was key for me.”
Mayor Clive Tolley agreed, adding it’s important to create ambience in the community to make visiting and living here a better experience.
Later in the meeting, council gave three unanimous readings to create a new public art committee bylaw and repeal the previous murals project management bylaw.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Feb. 28.
