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Public Art

Private Donations

Background Statement & Intent
These guidelines have been established to evaluate proposed voluntary public art gifts from private sources.

Gifts of artwork to the City are an important part of Richmond's growing Public Art Collection. Proposed gifts of artwork(s) namely, those privately purchased or commissioned and located on City sites will be reviewed before being placed into the City's Public Art Collection.

There are very limited City funds to preserve and conserve these works of art. There is also a limited number of suitable sites on City property for gifted artworks.

The guidelines are founded on the conviction that the acquisition of valid public art, like the City's long-term investment in capital works and social development, is contingent on the incorporation of professional advice and community representation.

All proposed gifts receive independent assessments by a public art review committee, which includes artists, other members of the professional art community, and representatives of the neighbourhoods involved, based on the guidelines below..

While the following guidelines have been written specifically for the gifting of artworks, other proposals for creative or innovative public art projects are welcomed and encouraged, for example:

  • Provision of a site and/or an endowment for an artist residency or a public art symposium
  • Provision of a site and/or an endowment for a changing exhibition of public art, sculpture garden, etc.

These proposals are also subject to the guidelines below.

Guideline Objectives
  1. To encourage and ensure that the City acquires public art that meets a high standard and is appropriate and meaningful for the community .
  2. To provide a procedure for reviewing proposed gifts to the City of art works intended for placement in public places under the City's jurisdiction.
  3. To acquire works that contribute to and enhance the City's Public Art Collection.
Definitions
Public Art: Artwork (e.g. sculptures, paintings, statues, etc.) intended for placement or installation at indoor and outdoor areas of public use under the City's jurisdiction.

Richmond Public Art Commission (RPAC): The City Council appointed citizen advisory committee board, made up of art professionals, urban designers, individuals from the development industry and from the community at large.

Gift: An existing or proposed work of art or funded project offered as a donation by someone to the City for placement at a public site under the City's jurisdiction.

Sponsor: An individual or group, other than the artist, who proposes a donation of a work of art or funded project for placement on a public site under the City's jurisdiction.

Role of Sponsor: The Sponsors principle role is to state the intent of the donation and provide the funding for its manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Community groups or corporations can act as a sponsor, provided that they are capable of demonstrating community support for the proposal and clear financial responsibility for its acquisition, production, installation, and maintenance at the time of the proposal.

Note: Demonstrating community support reinforces the public nature of the proposal.

Acceptance Conditions
  1. The City will consider gifts of works of art for placement at City owned sites on the understanding that City funds will not be required for production, siting, installation or maintenance of the work.
  2. A work of art must have a sponsor or co-sponsors who will present the proposal and, when necessary, be responsible for raising or providing the necessary funds in accordance with the budget that they presented to the City and the Public Art Commission.
  3. No gift of an artwork will be accepted by the City until all funds for its development and siting have been secured (e.g. by cheque, cash, etc.).
  4. The City will consider the following types of proposals for works of art intended for placement at a public site under the City's jurisdiction:

a) A sponsor's offer of an already completed work of art.

b) A sponsor's offer to commission an artwork by a specific artist or artists.

c) A sponsor's offer to commission an artwork by means of a public competition as described in the Public Art Program, Policy Plan and Implementation Actions.

Public Art Selection Criteria
The Public Art Program encourages the creation of work of the highest standards, that is deemed relevant to the community, and that allows the public to be inspired, make connections and understand relationships among the works in the collection and the community. City staff will review all proposals of gifts of artwork based on the following criteria, and refer them to the Public Art Commission, its review panels and City Council.

1. City Sites:
Gifted public artwork must be for sites under the City's jurisdiction (e.g. City owned, City managed (e.g. public right of way).

2. Theme:
A stated theme of the artwork, which is consistent with the goals, objectives and mandate of the City and the Richmond Public Art Program must be identified.

3. Relevance:
Works of art must be appropriate for the proposed site and its surroundings, and complement surrounding architecture, topography, history and the social dynamic of the particular community in which the art will be placed.

4. Artistic Excellence:
The work of art shall merit placement in a City public place.

A demonstrated ability and potential of the artist to execute the proposed piece, based on previous artistic achievement and experience must be shown.

In the case of a donation of an existing work of art, the quality of the work(s) must be supported by documentation from an independent professional evaluator.

In addition, the artwork must enhance the public art collection.

5. Physical Durability
Consideration of the artwork's long-term durability against theft, vandalism, and weather must be addressed.

6. Public Safety
All proposals must address public safety concerns.

7. Costs
All costs of the proposed artwork, including production, acquisition, siting, installation, and maintenance must be provided by the sponsor and be detailed in the proposal, with exception that City funds for the artwork maybe considered if it represents community or heritage significance.

8. Legal
Consideration will be given to the proposed terms of donation, legal title, copyright authenticity, artist right to reproduce, liability and other issues as appropriate.

Acquisition Procedures & Process
  1. All offers of artwork proposed for sites under City jurisdiction must be in writing and be submitted to the Public Art Commission which is responsible for reviewing proposals, designating review panels, and reporting its recommendations to City Council.

    Richmond Public Art Commission
    c/o City of Richmond
    Urban Development Division
    6911 No. 3 Road
    Richmond, B.C. V6Y 2C1

  2. The sponsor will be asked to submit a detailed proposal to the City and Public Art Commission prior to its consideration. The proposal must contain:
  • A rational for the purposed gift
  • A brief statement of purposed artwork and theme from the artist
  • A project time line
  • Project ownership, transfer to the City and stakeholder responsibilities
  • A site plan showing the work in relation to the site
  • Visual presentation material of the work on the proposed site(s) and community, including drawing(s), photograph(s) and model(s) of the proposed work with scale and materials indicated
  • A detailed budget, with projected costs for the project, including: materials, installation, documentation, construction, maintenance, insurance, etc.
  • Funds committed to date and proposed source(s) of funds
  • Anticipated maintenance for completed and/or donated artwork
  • Artist's resume and any additional supporting material
  • All other program criteria should be addressed in the proposal
  1. The Commission and City staff will review offers of artwork to determine whether they meet initial criteria for the City's public art collection.
  2. All those qualifying will be put on a list of possible donations.
  3. The Commission will appoint and instruct a panel(s) to review the offers and sites for compatibility and make recommendations to the Commission.
  4. The panel of no fewer than three members and no more than 5 persons with suitable expertise, including art professionals and at least one neighbourhood representative, if appropriate, to evaluate the work according to the criteria and the choice of site.
  5. The panel chair will report the panel's decision in writing to the Commission.
  6. Public Art Commission accepts or rejects the panels decision.
  7. Public Art Commission makes a recommendation to City Council on accepted proposals.
  8. If the proposal is accepted by tCity Council, a formal agreement will be drawn up outlining the responsibilities of each party (the City, the sponsor, the artist and outside contractors, where applicable). The agreement will address project funding, insurance, siting, maintenance, project supervision, vandalism, the plaque, the right of removal or transfer, public safety and other issues as necessary.
  9. If the panel, Public Art Commission, or City Council decides against selecting the proposal, City staff will notify the sponsor and the artist with the rationale for their decision.
Integrity and Registration of the Artwork
  1. The City will be the owner of the artwork and reserves the right to move or alter the work to meet public safety or other City concerns. Any such change, will be made in consultation with artist and sponsor, and the Public Art Commission.
  2. The completed and installed work of art will be registered in the City's Public Art Inventory together with the artist's statement of purpose.