Public Art Program

History and Plan

2000

March
24
Mayor Purcell filed a Metro Council bill to establish a Public Art Ordinance
May
16
Metro Council adopted the Public Art Ordinance
30
MNAC Public Art Guidelines Committee began development of guidelines for the administration of the new Public Art Ordinance
June
2
Mayor Purcell signed the Public Art Ordinance into law
December
•
Edited draft document of the Public Art Guidelines was sent to five professionals in the field of public art management for review and comment
•
First public art funds are identified

2001

March
14
A draft of the Public Art Guidelines was distributed to Metro Legal and Finance for review, comment and approval
July
19
Following approval from Metro Finance and Legal departments, the MNAC adopted the Public Art Guidelines
August
20
Staff and commissioners conducted a briefing session on the public art guidelines for Metro Council
28
MNAC Rules and Regulations Resolution filed with Metro Council [Editor’s note: This action was taken so MNAC can review and periodically amend the Guidelines without having to resubmit to the Metro Council every time there is an adjustment in the Guidelines.]
September
18
Metro Council adopted MNAC Rules and Regulation Resolution

2002

March
28
Staff completed Nashville Civic Design Center “Fundamentals of City and Neighborhood Design” 10-week course
April
18
The Public Art Committee appointed by the MNAC chair with approval of MNAC Executive Committee
June
6-7
Americans for the Arts Public Art Preconference “Fresh Perspectives: Public Art 2002”
13
Public Art Committee meeting 1 – Committee orientation began. Reviewed materials in PAC orientation binder, discussed the history of the program, and the orientation/education process
30
First public art funds from 2001 Capital Investment Plan are available
July
11
Public Art Committee meeting 2 – Reviewed first sections of the Public Art Guidelines and discussed submitting a collaboration proposal to the Nashville Civic Design Center to locate favorable sites for public art
August *
20
Public Art Committee meeting 3 – Reviewed middle sections of the Public Art Guidelines, proposal to Nashville Civic Design Center, and a completed list and map of existing art in public places in Nashville
•
(Barbara Chazen becomes chair of PAC)
September
19
Public Art Committee meeting 4 – Reviewed last sections of the Public Art Guidelines and David Paine led a public art marketing strategy session
November
1
Public Art Committee meeting 5 – Consultant Jerry Allen, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of San Jose, presented a slide history of public art in the US, provided advice and led discussion about our public art program. Allen also was the featured speaker at a Public Art Forum where he presented a slide survey of some of the best public art created in the past two years
December *
12
Public Art Committee meeting 6 – Consultant Barbara Goldstein, Director of Public and Community Arts, Seattle Arts Commission, presented slides of Seattle’s public art projects and responded to questions about our program strategy. Goldstein also presented slides to the Greenways Commission and met with Nashville Civic Design Center Design Director Mark Shimmenti

* Note: Even though the MNAC does not have monthly Commission meetings in August and December, the public art program scheduled PAC meetings to keep momentum going.

2003

February
•
In lieu of PAC meeting, encouraged all PAC members to attend as many Nashville Civic Design Center Plan of Nashville visioning workshops as possible. Over 30 artists and arts enthusiasts were recruited to participate in the process
March
5
Public Art Committee meeting 7 – Consultant Eloise Damrosch, Director of Public Art and Advocacy for the Regional Arts & Culture Council in Portland OR, presented slides of Portland’s public art projects and discussed dealing with mistakes and controversy
13
Public Art Forum with James Surls
•
Staff develops plan for Jack Mackie lecture/workshops and initiates contracts through Purchasing
April
9
Staff completed Nashville Civic Design Center “Urban Design in Practice” 10-week course
12
Participate in the Nashville Civic Design Center Plan of Nashville presentation at Nashville Convention Center. Staff sends reminder to all workshop arts participants and PAC
•
Staff identifies, contacts and confirms 40-plus artists, architects, landscape architects, planners and other design professionals to participate in Nashville Civic Design Center public art process led by Jack Mackie
•
Prepares maps, overview of Plan of Nashville community visioning as it relates to public art prior to Mackie workshop
24
Jack Mackie presents a Forum on Public Art for the Nashville Civic Design Center’s Urban Design class
24
Team captains meeting for Jack Mackie workshop
26
MNAC and NCDC hosted “Envision Public Art in the Plan of Nashville,” a public art workshop/charrette presented by Jack Mackie with approximately 65 attendees including artists, design professionals and community representatives
28
Staff prepares synopsis of Jack Mackie workshop for PAC meeting
30
Public Art Committee meeting 8 – Committee reviews “What is Public Art?” Q & A draft document, program schedule, project steps chart, public art fund balance and projected balance, and results of Jack Mackie workshop
May
21
Public Art Committee meeting 9 – Field trip to most favorable locations for initial public art projects
•
Staff prepares outline for second Jack Mackie workshop and confirms date for June 28
June
3-8
Americans for the Arts annual public art preconference and convention in Portland
20-30
Staff prepares recommendations to Public Art Committee regarding potential locations for public art
26
“Envision Public Art in Transportation” presentation by Jack Mackie to transportation engineers and managers
26
MNAC staff meets with MTA management team to discuss potential art in transit strategies
28
“Finding Inspiration for Public Art” workshop led by Jack Mackie for artists, design professionals and community representatives with approximately 65 attendees
30
Staff prepares recommendations to Public Art Committee of ways to approach decision on determining best location(s) for initial public art projects and allocation of Percent for Art funds
July
1
Public Art Committee 10 – meeting to discuss locations and funding allocations for initial public art project
•
Staff creates project(s) strategy and plan based on PAC decisions
August
5
Public Art Committee 11 - meeting to review PAC recommendation to MNAC and discuss Public Square project
7
Staff prepares for Public Art Committee review of timeline announcing and managing initial Percent for Public Art project(s)
September
18
MNAC approves PAC recommendation of two initial public art projects
23
Public Art Committee 12 – meeting to discuss progess on the Public Square project and begin work on Shelby Street Bridge area project
October
21
Public Art Committee 13 - meeting to review RFQ draft for Shelby Street Bridge area project
02
Carolyn Law named as design team artist for Public Square project
07
Carolyn Law participates in initial meeting with Public Square design team
November
12
Carolyn Law participates in second meeting with Public Square design team
18
Public Art Committee 14 - meeting to discuss preliminary Public Square art plan

2004

January
•
Public Art Committee meeting
•
Public Art Selection Panel meetings
February
•
Public Art Committee meeting
•
Public Art Selection Panel meetings
© 2009 Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission
800 2nd Avenue South, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 196300
Nashville TN 37219-6300 		arts@nashville.gov
(615) 862-6720
fax (615) 862-6731