Public art
Introduction |
Recent works | More about public art
More about public art
How much is spent
Public art is funded from a
variety of internal and external sources, and can vary considerably from year to
year. Actual annual expenditure is difficult to quantify as it depends on the level of capital
activity and costs can sometimes be spread
over several years. Provision of land to site an
artwork is also part of the equation.
Auckland City's funding for the
development of new public art comes from three main sources:
- The Public Art budget - a dedicated budget of $783,000
per annum that covers the cost of commissioning and consenting for new
public artworks.
- Capital project budgets - the cost of integrating new
public artworks is often part of the budget for the overall project eg the
St Patrick's Square upgrade included the commission of sculptural works
- Small Local Improvement Projects (SLIPS) - local capital projects are administered and allocated by
local community boards. These sometimes include
community public art works such as murals, and mosaic tiling projects.
Other sources of funding
- Gifts and partnerships eg with a trust - the council may offer to
provide a site, and agree to ongoing care and maintenance of a gifted
art work
- The District Plan Floor Space
Bonus Scheme - developers become eligible for additional floor space by
incorporating publicly accessible artworks that
remain in private ownership.
Renewals, repairs and maintenance
Public art works are identified
as special assets within the
Open Spaces Asset Management Plan
2009. The city budgets $200,000 per year for the "renewal" of public art
works. This covers the repair or restoration of works, and regular
condition surveys to assess what repairs or replacements
are required.
Some art works require very little ongoing maintenance other than
a regular clean, while works with movable parts, pumps, fountains, pools, and
lighting usually have higher maintenance costs.
How artists are selected for new commissions
When a new public art project is
to be commissioned, selected artists are invited to submit proposals.
The range of selection processes
used includes:
- limited competition between invited parties
- specific commission,
acquisition or appointment and
- competition via a public request for proposal. These are
advertised through media channels such as City Scene, newspapers and The
Big Idea website.
The Advisory Panel for Public Art (APPA) together with the public art manager
reviews each new project that is developed, and assists in the selection
processes that decide on the commission.
How new sites are chosen
When open spaces, such as town centres, train stations and park are upgraded
or developed, there is often an opportunity to include public art elements.
Proposals can come from a number of different avenues:
- Community Boards who propose and instigate developments in their local
areas
- independent projects conceived each year by the public art manager in
partnership with the Advisory Panel for Public Art (APPA)
- individuals and external
organisations who approach the council with a proposal to commission an
artwork for a particular location, or with a particular artist.
If the proposal
is approved by the APPA and the public art manager, and
the appropriate level of funding is available, council will form an agreement
with the party involved and assist in realising the project.
Maintainance of art
works
The council manages a maintenance programme which ensures that art works are
kept in good condition and repaired as necessary. Specialist
conservators are contracted when required.
Please
contact us to
report any damage to public art works.
Updated May 2010
