Chapter 2.19
PUBLIC ART
Sections:
2.19.050 Establishment of the Public Art Commission.
2.19.060 Public art guidelines/regulations.
2.19.070 Siting, installation, and maintenance.
2.19.080 De-accession policy and procedure.
2.19.010 Purpose and intent.
The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate and encourage public art in the City of Airway Heights by creating a streamlined application and review process, guidelines for siting, installation and maintenance of public art, and establishment of the municipal art fund to support and fund public art.
The provisions of this chapter are applicable to public art that is installed on publicly owned land within the City of Airway Heights including, but not limited to, city parks, streets and sidewalks within the public right-of-way, and any city-owned property including public buildings. (Ord. C-963 § 2, 2021)
2.19.020 Definitions.
A. “Artist” means a practicing fine artist, generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications of a person’s status as a professional artist include, but are not limited to, income realized through the sole commission of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork in public institutions, receipt of honors and awards, and training in the arts.
B. Artwork. See “Public art.”
C. “De-accession” means the formal process used to permanently remove an artwork owned by the City from the public art collection, usually through sale or exchange or any other transaction by which title of the outgoing artwork is transferred from the City to an individual, institution, agency, gallery, vendor or dealer. Under certain conditions, it may also include disposal by intentional destruction.
D. “Donation” means a charitable contribution to the City, during lifetime or testamentary transfer, whether whole or fractional interest, including, but not limited to, cash and cash equivalents, real property, personal tangible property, publicly traded equity and debt securities, closely held securities, restricted securities, life insurance policies, intellectual property, artifacts and/or artworks which would contribute to the City’s goals and priorities outlined in the public art plan.
E. “Extraordinary artwork maintenance” means any nonroutine repair, restoration or conservation to the sound condition of artworks that requires specialized services.
F. “Jury” means a panel of art professionals, technical advisors, and community advisors who convene to select an artist or team of artists.
G. “Mural” means any piece of artwork applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other permanent surface that does not contain any commercial message or sign. For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold.
H. “Municipal art fund” means a special purpose interest-bearing city fund into which shall be deposited all art funding authorized by this chapter together with other moneys as the city council shall authorize for works of art.
I. “Permanent artwork” means artwork exhibited with the expectation of indefinite duration.
J. “Professional artist” means any person who by virtue of professional training, exhibit history, and/or critical review is recognized as skilled in creating works of art.
K. “Public art” refers to all forms of visual art that are located within the City right-of-way or on public land within the City of Airway Heights that does not contain any commercial message or sign. For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold. Murals and artwork on private property are not regulated by this chapter. The aforesaid forms of visual art include, but are not limited to, the following mediums. Additional types of public art and/or mediums not mentioned here are subject to approval of the city and/or Arts Commission;
1. Paintings of all media including both portable and permanently affixed works such as frescoes and murals;
2. A sculpture of any form and in any material or combination of materials, including but not limited to statues, monuments, fountains, arches, reliefs, mobiles, kinetic, electronic and neon sculptures;
3. Other public art shall include, but not be limited to, inscriptions, stained glass, fiber works, carvings, mosaics, photographs, drawings, collages, textile works, prints and crafts, both decorative and utilitarian, in any medium including, but not limited to, clay, fiber, wood, metal, glass, stone, plastic and other materials; and
4. Artist-designed landscapes and earthworks, including the artistic placement of natural materials or other functional art objects.
L. “Public Art Commission” or “Art Commission” or Commission” means the advisory entity appointed by the City Council to establish policy and procedures to administer the public art plan and program.
M. “Public art plan” means a comprehensive guidebook for public art in the City which is intended to be the major tool by which the Public Art Commission achieves its mission. The public art plan is a working document that will assist the Public Art Commission, City Council and other public bodies in planning and funding for art-related projects, identifying key sites for public art, and will provide artists guidance when responding to proposals and projects.
N. “Public art program” means any expression by an artist of visual works available to the public in an open City-owned facility designated as a public area.
O. “Public property” means all spaces owned by the City of Airway Heights, indoor or outdoor, that are accessible and visible to the general public.
P. “Qualifying capital improvement project” means projects funded wholly or in part by the City of Airway Heights. See AHMC 3.06.040, Funds for public artwork.
Q. “Request for proposal” (RFP) means a process in which artists are asked to submit a detailed proposal for a specific site or project.
R. “Routine maintenance” means regular routine inspection and care of artwork, such as cleaning and applying protective surface coatings. A trained technician, City employee or third party contracted by the City trained to provide such services will carry out any required maintenance procedures.
S. “Temporary artwork” means artwork exhibited for a limited duration. The time frame for temporary artwork is subject to a set time frame determined by the artist and Arts Commission. (Ord. C-963 § 3, 2021)
2.19.030 Design criteria.
There are no absolute criteria for acceptable public art, except for general tenants which include:
A. Artistic merit and quality as evidenced by an artist’s history of exhibitions or sales, awards or other recognition, or an outstanding first work; as well as the inherent quality in terms of timelessness, vision, design, aesthetics, and excellence.
B. Intentionality of the artist concerning the meaning and proposed or desired effect of the work as public art upon the viewing public.
C. Logical significance and site-specificity by creating a sense of excitement on public property and presenting fresh ways of seeing the community and City while also recognizing the historic and environmental context of the site.
D. Representation of a variety of styles and tastes in the collection by acknowledging existing works in the public art collection, striving for cultural diversity of style, scale, and media, and representing the eclectic tastes of the community.
E. Unrestricted public viewing, primarily the opportunity for public access, but also suitability for public participation, social and political attitudes, and functional considerations.
F. Safety and durability including the ability and structural integrity of the artwork to withstand weather conditions, minimize the possibility of injury, and protect against theft and vandalism.
G. Installation and maintenance of work from practicality of fabrication and transport, to installation and long-term maintenance and associated costs.
H. Compatibility with established patterns of use at the site by situating artwork such that it is accessible, visible, and appropriately scaled to the site, and such that it does not seriously disrupt the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic or adversely alter the environmental conditions of the selected site. (Ord. C-963 § 4, 2021)
2.19.040 Approval process.
A. Prior to the installation of any artwork, a complete public art application must be submitted to the Airway Heights Planning Department including all requirements as detailed in subsection (B) of this section.
B. Application Requirements.
1. Project description, including purpose, artist’s rationale and/or intention for the proposed work; history and provenance of the artwork; relationship of the project to other community interests and activities; as well as potential materials and media.
2. Illustrative and/or construction drawings of the proposed work. A scale model of the proposed work is strongly recommended (if applicable).
3. For 3D artwork, scaled site plan and color images of the proposed installation location and its context.
4. Scaled illustrative drawings or model showing the artwork in relation to the proposed site.
5. Description of short- and long-term maintenance requirements and costs. For temporary installations, a general liability insurance certificate listing the City of Airway Heights as additionally insured with at least $1,000,000 of general liability coverage must be included.
6. Artist resume, annotated exhibition list, and digital images of other works.
7. Project timeline, including (as applicable) fabrication, delivery, installation, maintenance schedule, and removal.
8. Project budget, including both committed and anticipated funding sources.
9. General letters of support. Applicants are encouraged to include letters of support, particularly from neighborhood groups.
C. Review Procedures.
1. Within 30 days of receipt of an application, the Planning Department shall review the application for completeness.
a. Should the application be deemed incomplete, the Planning Department shall provide the applicant with written notification and a detailed description of the determination.
b. Once an application is deemed complete, the Planning Department shall forward the application to the applicable City departments, the Public Art Commission, and other related agencies for approval of the installation’s proposed site.
D. The Public Art Commission shall review the application at its next regularly scheduled meeting to determine if the submission fulfills the design criteria and requirements detailed herein. Either the Public Art Commission or, upon invitation, the artist may present the application at a public meeting for comment and review.
E. Upon considering community input, economic feasibility, maintenance requirements, and the appropriateness of the design, the Public Art Commission shall either recommend that the City Council approve, approve with modifications, or deny the application. Failure to act on an application does not result in a default approval. An application may only receive a recommendation of denial based upon objective criteria as set forth in this chapter. If the Commission recommends denial of the application, the Commission shall provide the applicant with written reasons as to why the application was recommended to be denied within 10 business days of its decision. (Ord. C-963 § 5, 2021)
2.19.050 Establishment of the Public Art Commission.
A. Powers and Duties.
1. The Public Art Commission (herein referred to as the Commission) shall provide leadership to enhance the experience of public space, be an effective advisory body to recommend and implement approved public art policy and procedures, and maintain thoughtful public participation, outreach, and communications concerning public art.
2. The Commission recommends to the City Council all public art applications and City Council approval shall be necessary prior to the installation of public art in the City of Airway Heights unless exempted by the terms of this chapter.
3. The Commission shall initiate and develop proposals to receive recommendations and to solicit contributions for additions to the existing collection of public art.
4. The Commission shall be responsible for the development and oversight of a public art plan including criteria and guidelines for the selection of new public art, either temporary or permanent. The criteria and guidelines shall relate but are not limited to economic feasibility, maintenance, security, and aesthetics. No public art shall be acquired, loaned, or installed, nor shall existing public art be deaccessioned or removed from public places without prior review by the Commission.
5. The Commission is authorized to establish a jury, advisory group, or consult with public artists when reviewing an application or acquiring a piece of public art.
6. The Commission shall submit an annual report to the City Manager on its activities.
B. Membership.
1. The Commission shall consist of a minimum of five voting members who must be residents of Airway Heights or Spokane County.
2. Appointment. Members of the Arts Commission shall be nominated by the Council Chair and confirmed by a majority vote of four members of the City Council. Arts Commissioners shall be selected without respect to political affiliations and shall serve without compensation.
3. The Commission should be composed of the following members when possible:
a. All members shall have a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of public art and possess qualities of impartiality and objective judgment. Whenever reasonably possible, members shall include individuals possessing knowledge and expertise in varied fields of art, including: artists, sculptors, actors, photographers, teachers, filmmakers, landscape architects, designers, muralists, or collectors and dealers.
4. The Commission is staffed by the Planning Department which provides support to the Commission including the development of agendas, meeting notices (as applicable), meeting minutes, reports and research as needed for projects.
C. Terms of Office.
1. Commissioner terms shall be for a four-year period. Terms shall expire on the thirty-first day of January.
2. Removal. Members of the Commission may be removed by the Council Chair, with the concurrence of the City Council, for neglect of duty, conflict of interest, malfeasance in office, or other just cause, or for unexcused absence from three regular meetings within a 12-month period. Failure to qualify as to residency shall constitute a forfeiture of office. The decision of the City Council regarding membership on the Arts Commission shall be final and without appeal.
3. Any vacancy that results from an expired term or resignation shall be filled by the City Council.
D. Officers. The Commission shall have a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, as elected by a majority vote of the Commission.
E. Compensation of Members. Commission members shall have no compensation for their services.
F. Meetings.
1. The Commission shall meet for the purpose of organization as soon as reasonably possible after January 1st of each year.
2. The Commission shall meet at such times as it finds necessary throughout the year, but not less often than once every quarter.
3. All meetings shall be open to the public.
4. A quorum shall consist of a majority of appointed voting members of the Commission.
5. Public notice of the time and place of a meeting scheduled at least one week prior thereto shall be conspicuously posted in one or more designated public locations.
6. The Commission shall establish and publish rules and regulations governing the conduct of its meetings, the procedure and criteria to be utilized in recommending approving or denying public art applications to the City Council and any other matters within its power and duties; provided, that the rules and regulations are not contrary to the terms and intent of this chapter.
G. Conflicts of Interest. Members of the Commission shall fully comply with Chapter 42.23 RCW, Code of Ethics for Municipal Officers, Chapter 42.36 RCW, Appearance of Fairness, and such other rules and regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the City Council regulating the conduct of any person holding appointive office within the City. (Ord. C-1034 § 1, 2024; Ord. C-985 § 1, 2022; Ord. C-963 § 8, 2021)
2.19.060 Public art guidelines/regulations.
A. Ownership of Public Art.
1. All artwork commissioned and/or acquired by the City of Airway Heights will be owned by the City of Airway Heights.
2. Artwork loaned to the City will be covered by the City’s insurance for the duration of the loan.
3. Acceptance of a gift or loan of artwork by the City of Airway Heights means a commitment to its preservation, protection, and display for public benefit within the reasonable resources of the City of Airway Heights.
B. Acquisitions.
1. An acquisitions program is the most active and visible means of promoting and enhancing the public art collection. By purposefully acquiring individual works, the Commission can make a broad variety of art available and distribute installation locations across the City. Attending to site-specific themes will enhance sense of place and strengthen community character while citizen involvement will advance a greater appreciation for public art and a high-quality physical environment.
2. Acquisitions of public art shall be free of restrictive conditions by the artist or donor unless, at the discretion of the Commission, such conditions are reasonable and not detrimental to the City.
3. The artist is the rightful owner with all power and authority to loan, donate, or sell to the City and will indemnify and hold the City harmless from any actions, claims, or proceedings challenging title to ownership.
4. Once specific site selection occurs, the Commission will select an artist using one of the following methods:
a. Open Request for Proposals. Artists submit proposals in response to a public advertisement, which includes a detailed project description and budget, explanation of honorarium, and application requirements. Submissions will include, at a minimum, the artist’s resume and slides of his work. After reviewing the responses, the Public Art Commission will extend interview invitations to a number of the artists, ultimately selecting one for the commission.
b. Limited Invitational/Curated Pool of Artists. A select group of artists submits proposals in response to a direct invitation, which includes a detailed project description and budget, explanation of honorarium, and application requirements. Submissions will include the artist’s resume, slides of his work, and a written narrative of his proposal. After reviewing the responses, the Commission will extend interview invitations to a small number of the artists, ultimately selecting one for the Commission.
c. Blind Request for Proposals. Artists submit proposals in response to a public advertisement, which includes a detailed project description and budget, explanation of honorarium, and application requirements. Submissions will include narrative and two-dimensional depictions of the proposed concept, but not contain any artist information; each submission will have an identification number for evaluation purposes. After reviewing the responses, the Commission will extend interview invitations to a number of the artists, ultimately selecting one for the Commission.
d. Direct Invitation. A single artist submits a proposal in response to an invitation, which includes a detailed project description and budget, explanation of honorarium, and proposal requirements. The Commission will interview the artist, who will present his concept using both two- and three-dimensional portrayals.
5. After the Commission agrees on the artist selection method, the Planning Department will prepare materials for advertisement and distribute them as required. The Commission will review each submission to determine if it is complete and responsive to the request. The Commission will return incomplete submissions to the artist, noting why the proposal is incomplete.
6. The Commission will review complete submissions and, except when using direct invitation, select artists for interviews. Given the scope of some projects as well as the number of respondents, the Commission may first establish a jury which will be responsible for the selection of the public art. The Commission and/or jury may develop a short list for consideration and subsequently identify those to be interviewed. The Commission and/or jury may ask interviewees, in addition to a formal meeting with the Commission and/or jury, to make a public presentation regarding their body of work and initial concepts for the Commission.
7. Following the interviews and consideration of public comments and compatibility with the design criteria set forth in AHMC 2.19.030 the Commission and/or jury will either approve or deny the submission. Following approval, the selected artist will enter into a contract with the City which will facilitate acquisition and will clearly stipulate the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
8. When the artist and the City have satisfied contractual requirements, fabrication and installation can begin immediately. The appropriate City department will monitor all work. The Commission will initiate any related marketing and outreach programs and will encourage community dialogue regarding the commissioned artwork.
C. Donations and Unsolicited Offers.
1. The City may also obtain public art through donations, as well as unsolicited offers. Gifts that artists or owners offer must conform to the public art plan’s goals and objectives, and public participation will help achieve community acceptance of a proffered piece.
2. All costs for installation shall be negotiated by the City and the donor at the time of donation.
3. The City has the authority to decline gifts, donated pieces, and unsolicited pieces of public art.
D. On-Loan Items.
1. Displaying works that an artist or owner has loaned is an effective way to expand public art in the community. The on-loan program allows the City to complement or supplement the permanent pieces in the collection for a limited time. It provides opportunities to display well-known works and those that are new or unfamiliar, and it offers the chance to highlight aspiring artists and experienced masters alike.
2. The Commission and artist shall agree upon a reasonable length of time, not to exceed the negotiated agreement, for the art to be displayed.
3. At the end of the agreed time period, as contracted between the City and the artist, the artist is responsible for removing the installation.
4. Should the artist fail to remove the installation within the negotiated time period, the piece will be considered abandoned. The City retains the right to remove the installation in accordance with AHMC 2.19.080. (Ord. C-963 § 9, 2021)
2.19.070 Siting, installation, and maintenance.
A. Siting.
1. The siting and location of all public artwork will be the responsibility and right of the City. Recommendations on siting will be made by the Commission in consultation with appropriate City staff.
2. Site selection for public art will be reviewed with the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to:
a. The safety and security of the proposed site;
b. Ease of access for routine maintenance using standard City equipment;
c. Visibility and accessibility by a broad public audience;
d. The context of the proposed artwork at the proposed site as it relates to social, cultural, historical, ecological, physical and functional context; and
e. Community support for the proposed site.
3. Public art shall be identified with suitably designed and sized plaques reviewed and with recommendations to the appropriate City Department by the Commission.
B. Installation.
1. Installation, maintenance, alteration, refinishing, moving, and removal of artwork in public places shall be done in consultation with the artist.
2. Installation of individual works will be through the combined efforts of the artist and City staff, or other contractor as specified in the contract.
a. The artist will be responsible for installation with the appropriate City department(s) providing oversight. If the artist is not able to direct the installation, then City staff shall consult with an expert in art handling and maintenance to assist in the installation at the expense of the artist.
b. The artist will provide the City with detailed drawings of the piece and descriptions of transportation, unpacking and/or handling methods and scheduling.
3. The Commission will encourage donors to cover installation costs associated with proposed gifts. In all cases, donors must provide sufficient information to generate accurate estimates of such costs.
C. Maintenance.
1. The City of Airway Heights will be responsible for routine maintenance and emergency response for all public art acquired, donated, or on loan to the City.
2. For all acquired pieces, the artist will define techniques, methods, materials, schedules and costs for regular repairs, and will provide this information at or before installation. Donations and/or loans of public art must include sufficient funding to adequately cover maintenance.
In some circumstances, the artist might elect to engage a particular technician for repairs, and therefore must include special provisions allowing the technical access to the piece in contracts between the artist and the City. The City reserves the right to require the artist (and/or donor or owner) assume all costs for specialized or extraordinary artwork maintenance.
3. When emergency repair of artworks is necessary, the City will contact the artist regarding proposed remedies. Absent such advice, recommendations from the Commission for routine maintenance will serve as the principal guide for addressing emergency conditions.
4. Artwork loaned or acquired by the City shall be insured by the City’s insurance to cover damage, vandalism, theft, fire, and damage from natural disasters. Normal wear and tear are excluded from insurance coverage by the City. Therefore, repairs and maintenance for normal wear and tear of pieces acquired or loaned by the City and put on public display shall be provided by the City at its discretion. “Wear and tear” include such things as normal aging or exposure to the elements, or similar circumstances (e.g., rust, cracks, fading). The City shall make a good faith effort to maintain the artwork, pedestal, and plaque in good condition, on par with other art works on public display owned by or loaned to the City.
5. The City of Airway Heights Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining all files related to the installation, routine maintenance and emergency response of public art pieces. (Ord. C-963 § 10, 2021)
2.19.080 De-accession policy and procedure.
A. De-accessioning public art should be an action seldom used and should not be used due to fluctuations in taste.
B. After due consideration, the Commission can recommend such action, however, in cases that meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. The artwork has been abandoned;
2. The Commission finds the artwork to be fraudulent or inauthentic;
3. The artwork possesses substantial demonstrated faults in original design or workmanship;
4. The current condition of the artwork presents a public or environmental hazard and repair/restoration is not feasible due to physical conditions and/or the expense would be disproportionate to the value of the artwork;
5. The building housing the artwork or other architectural support system for the piece is slated for demolition and relocation is not feasible;
6. The artwork encumbers the use of public property; and/or
7. Public use and/or ownership of the site have or will change, rendering the artwork incompatible with the property.
C. Should the Commission justify de-accessioning, it will seek opinions on the disposition of the subject piece from the artist community and general public.
D. The Commission will give priority consideration to returning works to the artist or their/his/her heirs, or in the case of donations, to the donor or their/his/her heirs.
E. The City will store de-accessioned pieces as time and space allow.
F. The Commission will disclose both the de-accession criteria and possible disposition of such artwork to the artist and/or donor before finalizing any contractual agreements.
G. In the case the City chooses to sell a piece of public art, all proceeds from the sale will be placed in a City account for acquisition of new works of public art or maintenance of the existing collection. (Ord. C-963 § 11, 2021)