culturalindy : public art


What is Public Art?
In cities across the country, public art takes a variety of forms. Historically, art that is accessible to the public has been in the form of freestanding pieces of work or objects that occupy a public space, such as sculptures or memorials, or architectural embellishments such as carved facades. Art may also be integrated into the way the city is built. Functional objects such as benches, trail markers, tree guards, or manhole covers can be commissioned works by artists. In a growing number of cities, artists are working with architects, engineers, and landscape designers to create visually rich public spaces. These include pedestrian and vehicular bridges, streetscapes, and canal banks. All of these forms of public art make cities more interesting and unique places to live, work, and visit.
Does Indianapolis have a public art tradition?
Indianapolis’ identity was created around an extraordinary tradition of city planning, freestanding monumental art and architecture, and an interest in providing inspired public spaces. In fact, Indianapolis is built around a huge piece of public art that the city’s residents have come to refer to as “The Monument” (Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Circle). As early as 1821, it is evident that our founders had an interest in providing high quality art for the public to enjoy. At that time Alexander Ralston was commissioned to devise a layout for the city of Indianapolis. Ralston worked under Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the famed French-born engineer and architect, who was commissioned by President George Washington to plan our nation’s capital at Washington, D.C. Similar to Washington, D.C.’s layout, Ralston devised the Mile Square for Indianapolis, which determined the location of buildings for courts, religious centers, market places, and public art. Between 1908 and 1915 further successful city planning is exemplified in the vision of George Kessler’s Boulevard and Park System, which remains a vital part of the city’s current infrastructure and has provided opportunities for the incorporation of public art. This whole interconnected system includes 12 parks, 6 parkways and 2 boulevards that encompass numerous historic features such as parkway alignments, landscape compositions, walks, bridges, buildings, statuaries and fountains. Furthermore, there is a history of organized professional design competitions used in commissioning public art. These competitions were held on international, national, and local levels, and were funded by private and public resources. Examples include: Soldiers and Sailors Monument. An1887 international design competition led to Bruno Schmitz’s (1858-1916) creation of this focal point and gathering place. An icon of our city, this monument incorporates sculpture by four artists, Rudolf Schwarz, Frederick William MacMonnies, George Thomas Brewster, and Nicolaus Geiger, and was fabricated by the Terre Haute Stone Company. It took twelve years to complete and though private funds were raised, most of the approximately $600,000 cost was paid for with public funds. Spending $600,000 in 1887 would be like spending $11.5 million dollars today. Indiana World War Memorial Plaza. A1923 national competition influenced by the City Beautiful Movement led to the selection of Frank B. Walter & Harry E. Weeks, architects from Cleveland, Ohio, to plan this public space, which now houses several pieces of commissioned public art. View Finders. A 1996 local competition held by Riley Area Development led to the installation of a work by artist Eric Nordgulen at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, New York, and Delaware. The $40,000 budget was raised with both public and private grants. Tree Grates in the Indianapolis Artsgarden. A 1999 local competition administered by the Arts Council of Indianapolis’ Public Art Committee was held for the design of 11 unique tree grates for each of the olive trees in the Indianapolis Artsgarden. This tradition needs to be continued.
What resources and services do we currently have to help continue this tradition?
To facilitate the incorporation of new high quality public art in Indianapolis, the following resources are currently being developed and are available to anyone in the community interested in initiating a public art project. Public Art Project Coordinator: The Arts Council of Indianapolis, with the support of the Cultural Development Commission, has hired a professional Public Art Project Coordinator to manage the development of public art resources and assist with the administrative needs of public art projects already underway. Public art educational materials: This brochure, a PowerPoint presentation, and a public art note card series have been developed to provide information on the past, present, and potential future of public art in Indianapolis. These materials are intended to gain support and create opportunities for public art. The Public Art Project Coordinator will be using these materials to reach out to arts organizations, civic leaders, service groups, corporations, and other community groups interested in public art in Indianapolis. Database of images and information on local artists: The Arts Council of Indianapolis is managing a Visual Artist Database as a resource for those seeking artists for projects. It includes an artist’s formal application, a biography/résumé, detailed descriptions of past projects with slides or a CD, and a statement regarding the type of work the artist would like to produce. In the Visual Artist Database, artists who are experienced and interested in public art projects are coded and can be pulled separately. The library of artists’ information is located in the Arts Council’s office at 20 N. Meridian St., Suite 500, in Indianapolis. A web-based database is also available on-line at www.indyarts.org. Database of public art advocates: The Public Art Project Coordinator is developing a database of individuals who are interested in advocating for public art issues in our community. E-mail addresses are being used as a foundation for communication. This database receives notices of new projects and invitations to public art advocacy events and future dedications. The database is also used to recruit people to participate on individual project committees. Artist workshops in public art: Partnerships with arts educators and artist organizations are being facilitated to help interested artists develop the skills necessary to compete for future public art projects. Topics covered in workshops may include how to put together professional presentations for public art project selection committees. Development of a Great Ideas Competition: A biennial Great Ideas Competition is being developed to encourage the involvement and advancement of local artists. The goal is to promote the engagement of neighborhoods and other local citizens’ groups with local talent to create public art projects that truly reflect unique aspects of the community. Pending funding, there will be an open call for creative and innovative public project ideas and a review panel will select one or more for creation. The Public Art Project Coordinator will provide the selected project team(s) with administrative support to facilitate the realization of the project(s). Ongoing financial support from the community is necessary for this competition. Data regarding ordinances for public art: Nationally, successful Public Art Programs have advocated for passing ordinances that allocate a percent (1%-2%) of public capital improvement project budgets for the acquisition, maintenance, and administration of public art. The passage of such an ordinance is recommended under the long-term goals of this plan but requires a great deal of grassroots support. In preparation for this, the Public Art Project Coordinator is gathering examples of ordinances and accompanying implementation guidelines from other cities. To assist in this effort, the Coordinator is working with the Public Art Network (PAN) of Americans for the Arts. A Public Art Working Group: An advisory group will assist the Public Art Project Coordinator in formalizing and standardizing the public art resources and services so that they are practical and efficient for parties interested in initiating public art projects. Establishing the effectiveness of these resources and services will be pivotal in setting the pace for a formal Public Art Program. Group members provide professional input and act as liaisons to their constituencies. They aid in building the publics awareness of these resources and services and advocate for their use. The group is comprised of people who have skill-sets that are used in public art projects. Participants include visual artists, arts administrators, architects, engineers, historians, curators, and city and neighborhood officials.
What is a formalized Public Art Program?
Nationally, Public Art Programs oversee art projects involving public property or public money. Programs provide standardized professional guidance and resources for the selection and commissioning of artists, as well as the planning, installation, and maintenance of public art. This service ensures fair public processes involving the community. Furthermore, Public Art Programs remain engaged with the private sector as a continued resource for projects that involve private property or private funding. Successful programs are governed by thoughtful policies and procedures that insure neighborhood and community involvement, operational consistency, equitable processes, and accountability. Ultimately the goal is to foster an environment of collaboration between project participants and community members. Public Art Programs often begin with the development of a citywide master plan, identification of a dedicated funding source, city engagement, and community involvement.
How was a master plan for public art in Indianapolis developed?
The development of the Indianapolis Public Art Master Plan was a project of the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Primary funding for the Master Plan was provided by the city’s Cultural Development Commission as one of the components of the Cultural Tourism Initiative. The initiative is a partnership of the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, and the City of Indianapolis. To create a master plan for public art in Indianapolis, the Arts Council worked with the Freeman/Whitehurst Group, public art planning consultants. More than 150 community members provided input into the development of the Public Art Master Plan, which was completed in September of 2003. The plan unites the vision and talent of artists, arts organizations, arts educators, and public historians, to name a few, who are dedicated to furthering the visual enhancing of the city.
How would public art be handled through an Indianapolis Public Art Program?
A Public Art Program would provide a coordinated, collaborative plan to develop and maintain public art in Indianapolis. Over the last 70 years the inclusion of art and artists in the planning and development of public spaces in our city has been intermittent. The Indianapolis Public Art Program would be a centralized body facilitating the inclusion of artists and historians in the beginning phases of planned public spaces while also identifying and creating new permanent and temporary public art opportunities in the city. The Program would work in collaboration with city-wide planning efforts, like the Indianapolis Regional Center Plan 2020, which acknowledges the importance of using public art to create a unique sense of place in downtown districts. The goals of the Indianapolis Public Art Program, as identified in the Freeman/Whitehurst Group’s Master Plan, would be to: Build on the established tradition of public art in Indianapolis. Frame an understanding of the city’s past, present, and future public art projects, and share that with residents and visitors. Work with the city to archive the city’s existing works of public art, and develop routine maintenance, conservation, and signage programs. Create a more vibrant city for residents and visitors by bringing artists and historians back into the way the city is built and experienced through a professional program that includes formal planning, equitable processes, community input, and collaboration. Visually express the unique and rich regional history, spirit, and identity of the city and its neighborhoods. Integrate that unique and rich regional history into public art projects through collaboration with public historians. Generate funding for public art from a variety of sources including corporate, philanthropic, and governmental entities. Explore a percent for art ordinance to support public art. Local government is the most significant potential source of funding due to the many construction opportunities that are presented by civic architecture and public infrastructure. Collaborate with individual, corporate, nonprofit, and government entities regarding the acquisition, maintenance, and conservation of artworks as well as provide guidelines related to artists’ rights. Begin with building awareness and progress to building ability and stability to establish a successful Indianapolis Public Art Program.
Based on the recommendations made in the Freeman/Whitehurst Group’s Master Plan, how can a successful Public Art Program be established in Indianapolis?
I. Build Ability: The Medium-term Actions Continue to build a centralized service and resource center: The center will serve as a resource to any community group undertaking a public art project, while also actively seeking resources and collaborative partners to initiate public art projects. At this time the Public Art Project Coordinator should be firmly in place with resources and standardized professional tools and ready to actively assist in projects. The Coordinator may need to hire additional project staff to assist in project management and continue movement toward establishing a Public Art Program. Initiate communication tools: The communication tools established in the short-term  e-list of public art advocates, Visual Artists Database and image library, printed materials and presentation will be used to continue educating and informing the community regarding public art opportunities and events, and to advocate for a Public Art Program. Pursue a dedicated funding source: To ensure long-term stability, the Public Art Coordinator will advocate for a citywide percent for art ordinance that allocates a portion of public capital improvement projects for the acquisition, maintenance, and administration of public art. If an ordinance is not passed other dedicated funding sources will be pursued. II. Build Stability: The Long-Term Actions Establish the Public Art Committee: When a dedicated funding source is established, a standing committee comprised of community representatives, arts professionals, and city leaders will replace the Public Art Working Group. This body will have substantial reporting responsibilities for the administration of these dedicated funds. It will oversee the recommendations of individual project committees, help direct an annual action plan, and set policy for the Public Art Program. Hire a Director of Public Art: A qualified and professional Director of Public Art should be established as the leader of this Program under the advisement of the Public Art Committee Develop an annual action plan: The Director of Public Art with the Public Art Committee will develop an annual action plan selecting and detailing the public art projects that will be administered by the Program that year. Continue community collaborations: The Indianapolis Public Art Program will work with each neighborhood in the community. Each public art project will be driven by a unique steering committee comprised of project stakeholders and members of the neighborhood most closely connected to the project’s site.
What are potential future public art projects or sites?
Potential public art projects or sites were identified within the Freeman/Whitehurst Group’s Master Plan. The initiation of public art projects will depend on the availability of funding and staff. Initial short-term projects are intended to rally forces and result in early successes in Indianapolis’ Public Art Initiative. Suggestions for initial projects and sites include: Public art lectures Public art note card series Public art writers project Suggestions for medium and long-term projects or sites include: Indianapolis International Airport Indianapolis/Marion County Public Libraries IndyGo projects like artistically designed bus shelters, passes, and tickets Former Market Square Arena site development Bio Crossroads - Central Indiana’s Life Science Initiative Cultural Districts State Fairgrounds Lake Sullivan Wetlands Pogue’s Run Parks: Garfield Park Arts Center, Brookside Shelter House, and Eagle Creek Discovery Center. Community centers Cultural Trail Monon Trail The Indianapolis Public Art Program may also partner with the Black Expo, the Formula One Grand Prix, 500 Festival, Indianapolis Jazz Fest and others to provide temporary works of public art for these significant community events.
How do I get involved?
Building a future for public art in Indianapolis depends on community involvement on many levels. It is essential that artists submit applications for the public art component of the Visual Artist Database. Artists are asked to clearly indicate their qualifications for and interest in executing public art projects and include a narrative about what types of projects they would like to execute. Artists need to participate in project committees where their work is not under consideration to provide valuable input into aesthetic decision-making processes. Secondly, community representation is needed on public art project committees. Community involvement provides a vital balance to the decision-making process. Every public art project is different and will require its own committee comprised not only of artists, art professionals, and stakeholders, but also business and neighborhood representatives who will be the most immediately affected by the project and its selected site. Finally, the Public Art Project Coordinator is currently working to assist any community entity with initiating and facilitating a public art project. Please take advantage of the resources being established. To request a Visual Artists Database form, to get involved as a community advocate, or to request public art resources or services, please contact: ARTS COUNCIL OF INDIANAPOLIS 20 N. Meridian St., Suite 500 Indianapolis, IN 46202 Tel: 317.631.3301 Email: publicart@indyarts.org Web: www.indyarts.org