AGENDA #6

 CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION

ANNUAL REPORT & BUDGET REQUEST FOR FY 2002/03

Presented March 25, 2002

TO:                  Mayor Kevin Foy and Council Members,

FROM:             Ellen Fussell and Renee Piechocki, Co-Chairs Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission

As Co-Chairs of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission (CHPAC), we would like to give a brief report on the Commission’s activities and present a proposed budget for the 2002-03 fiscal year.  

CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Art exhibits at Town Hall and the Library

• Six exhibits at Town Hall and six at the Library on an annual basis

· Solicit artists for the exhibits with a “Call for Artists” brochure and press releases

· Set-up a committee to review the artists’ slides and select the artists

· Provided exposure for twenty-four artists

· Coordinate the exhibit schedule

· Hang the shows and provide identifying labels, biographical information and artist’s statements

· Send out press releases

· Help the artists develop invitations to the reception/exhibit

· Sponsor an opening reception

· Process all purchases

Sculpture on the Green – Two- day sculpture exhibit held in conjunction with the AppleChill Festival  

· Sculptors from across the state are invited to display their works. Last year twenty-one artists exhibited forty-one original sculptures. 

· An independent judge selects four artworks for merit recognition.  The artists receive a $500 merit award.  A grant has been received to help us pay for the awards.

Summer Select Sculpture Exhibit

· A “Call for Artists” invites artists to submit slides of their large-scale sculptures for review.

· A selection panel selects approximately four to six artworks that will be displayed at public sites in town from mid-April to August 31, 2002.

· An honorarium is paid to the participating artists. 

Performing Arts Program

• CHPAC featured fifteen performing artists at five art exhibit openings and at the Sculpture on the Green reception.
• By including a performance artist or performance group at the art exhibit openings an enlarged audience was on hand to appreciate both the visual and the performing arts.
• Local musical groups and individuals were tapped for this program.

• A recent “Call for Performing Artists” has brought in sixty-eight applications.      

Percent-for-Art Program

• Worked with Town Staff to present a Public Art Ordinance and Resolution to the Town Council.  Chapel Hill became the first town in North Carolina to pass a public art ordinance.
• Organized artist selection meetings and design review process for the firehouse artwork.
• Organized meetings of the Public Art Review Committee to work with Mike Roig on the development of the project for Firehouse #5.
• Coordinated press efforts for Firehouse #5 which resulted in features on NBC 17 and articles in the Chapel Hill News and the Durham Herald.
• Currently working with Town Staff to make recommendations on which projects should be included in the Annual Public Art Plan.
• Working with Town Staff to develop a draft deaccessioning and gift policy to present to the Town Council.
• Currently working with the Department of Public Works to develop methods of integrating art into streetscape projects.

Five Year Action Plan

• The Commission received a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council to develop a community presentation that showcases public art practice, and engages the community in a dialogue about the current and future programs of the Commission
• Set-up a thirty-five member planning team which will develop goals and strategies for the Commission for the next five years, including an evaluation process of the feedback received during the community presentations.  This Action Plan will be finished by the fall of 2002.
• Made presentations to the Town Staff, artists, and the Planning Team about public art practice and the programs of the Commission with consultant Charles Moleski and discussed goals and programs of the Commission.
• Continue to seek out opportunities to make presentations to a wide array of community organizations and citizens groups about public art and the programs of the Commission.  We have already visited the Sunshine Rotary Club.

Collection Survey

• Embarked on a survey of the artworks owned by the Town of Chapel Hill.
• Thirty-six artworks including a signed etching by George Braque, a signed lithograph by Salvadore Dali and a signed lithograph by Alexander Calder have been located.
• Organizing and cataloguing the town’s collection will continue and a permanent record of the Town’s collection will be maintained by the Commission.  Methods for informing the public about the Town’s artworks will be researched once we know more about the collection.

General Activities

· Write grants and solicit private funds to help cover expenses. Received $7,800 during the 01/02 fiscal year.

· Advise the Town Council on art related matters.

· Provide venues for local and regional artists.

· Promote public appreciation, education, participation and support of the arts.

· Produce program notes for all exhibits, hold open receptions and inform the media of our activities.

· Provide general information and referral services to artists and the general public on art related matters.

· Maintain a donor/mailing list.

· Established a non-profit, Friends of Public Art, fundraising organization.

CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION

BUDGET REQUEST FOR FY 2001/02

INCOME

Application Fees for exhibitions                          $               600.00

Artist’s Commission Fees                                                  550.00

Fundraising                                                                      5000.00

Grants                                                                            2000.00

Interest                                                                              450.00        

Support – Corporate                                                         1000.00

Support - Individual                                                          1000.00

Support - Town                                                                        30000.00

TOTAL INCOME                                          $            40,600.00

EXPENSES                            

Artists Awards-Sculpture on the Green (3)         $              2000.00

Bank Charges                                                                     200.00

Catalogue/Document Artworks owned by the town (8)         700.00

Dues                                                                                  150.00

Exhibits/Receptions (2)                                                      1400.00

Informational/Educational Brochures (6)                 1500.00

Maintenance for Artworks Fund (5)                                  1000.00

Marketing                                                                         1000.00

Meetings                                                                             150.00

Miscellaneous                                                                     500.00

Office Supplies                                                                 1000.00

Performing Arts Program (7)                                             2000.00

Personnel – Administrative (1)                                         19500.00   

Postage                                                                            3000.00

Printing                                                                             2500.00

Sculpture on the Green security, judge. misc exp.                1000.00

Summer Select Brochure                                                     500.00

Summer Select Exhibit Awards (4)                                     2500.00

TOTAL EXPENSES                                       $          $40,600.00

BUDGET NOTES

1) Personnel – Administrative:

25 hours per week at $15 per hour

Administrative staff is needed to coordinate and manage the exhibits, performing arts series, special events, attend meetings, write reports, research and write grants, manage the percent for art projects and help develop a five year public art program.

2) Exhibits/Receptions:  The CHPAC is mounting twelve art exhibits and receptions per year at the Chapel Hill Town Hall and the Public Library.  Expenses incurred with each exhibit include the production of programs, poster boards, labels and press releases, documentation for insurance purposes and invitations which announce the exhibits.  Each exhibit has an opening reception and CHPAC provides the paper products.  A “Call for Artists” mailing goes out each spring to solicit artists for the next year.  Hundreds of slides are reviewed before the Selection Committee makes exhibit decisions. Approximately 25 to 45 artists’ works are displayed on an annual basis.  CHPAC’s staff person and the artists hang the exhibits.

3) Sculpture on the Green:  In 2003, CHPAC will be sponsoring  the 4th Annual “Sculpture on the Green” exhibit which is held in conjunction with Apple Chill.  Regional and area artists are invited to display their indoor, outdoor, interactive and installation sculptures at this event.   An independent judge selects four artworks for merit recognition.  The artists receive a $500 merit award.  The CHPAC has received and expects to continue receiving grant monies from the Orange County Arts Commission for these merit awards.

4) Summer Select Exhibit Awards:  Artists are invited to submit slides for review.   A selection panel selects approximately four to six sculptors to exhibit large-scale artworks at public sites around town from mid-April to

August 31, 2002.  An honorarium is paid to the participating artists. 

5) Maintenance of Artworks:  The CHPAC has started a maintenance fund for Town owned artworks.

6) Informational/Educational Brochures:  We would like to inform the public and artists about CHPAC’s  programs  by developing and producing informational/educational brochures.

 7) Performing Arts Program:  The CHPAC has begun developing a performing arts series to complement the Sculpture on the Green exhibit and other exhibits at Town Hall and the Library.  Local musicians and other performing artists are being solicited for this project.  We are also forming partnerships with the Downtown Commission and the Friends of the Library in order to share resources and provide for new performing arts venues.

8) Catalogue/Document Artworks Owned by the Town:  As the town embarks on a percent for art program, the artworks commissioned or purchased under this program need to be organized and catalogued. Photos of the works, care requirements, maintenance issues, locations, sizes, media, and other pertinent facts need to be documented.

ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS:  A WISH LIST

The following projects are currently being considered by the Commission.  Although not included in this budget request, we wanted to present these ideas to the Council as possible special projects.

1. Transportation Public Art Projects:  Inspired by the presentation we gave to the Town Staff, we are currently investigating the possibility of developing a public art project that will draw attention to public transportation in Chapel Hill.  Programs that do not require large budgets include poetry /  art “cards” that could be installed in the non-purchased advertising spaces on the buses and the developing of a unique artist-designed “marker”  for the bus stops and shelters.  This project could also involve partnerships with schools and community centers.  Model programs exist in communities across the country.   We are currently investigating budgets and methods.  We believe this project could be launched with as little as $5,000.

2. Booker Creek Sewer Cap Enhancements: Like the Bolin Creek Greenway, Booker Creek also contains sewer caps along the trail.  The Public Arts Commission would like to work with the Greenways Commission to develop a way of enhancing the appearance of the caps as a public art project.  The Bolin Creek caps contain artwork that highlights trees along the trail.  Project cost:   $4,000 - $6,000.

C.   Police Station Garden Seating: The Ralph Pendergraph garden at the Police Station was created as a community garden.  We would like to work with the Police Department and Public Works to commission an artist to create seating, and possibly other amenities at the site which we feel would greatly enhance the experience for visitors.  Project cost:   $3,000 - $4,000.

List of Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission Members

(as of March 2002)

Ellen Fussell, Co-Chair                      Editor, Writer

Renee Piechocki, Co-Chair               Artist, Public Art Consultant

Lucia Anderson                                  Retired Microbiologist

Barbara Barnes                                 Retired Arts Administrator

Lee Butler Bidgood                           Musician

Colleen Black-Semelka                     Artist

Katrinka Borders                               Retired Town Employee, Artist

Betsy Bullen                                       Retired Art Gallery Operator

Romeo (Chip) Fontaine                     Businessman

Jimmie A. Haynes, Treasurer           Dentist/Sculptor

Bibb Latane                                        Businessman

Susan Leeb                                         Graphic Artist

Joan Page                                           Non-profit administrator

Jean Parish                                         Artist

Linda Passman                                   Artist, Retired Teacher

Andrew Ross                                      Freelance arts technician

Staff Member

Karen Slotta                                       Arts Administrator