North Adams Panel Recommends Public Art CommitteeBy Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
04:53PM / Thursday, January 08, 2015 | |
 The General Government Committee is recommending the creation of a Public Art Committee. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The General Government Committee on Monday voted to send an ordinance that will create a Public Art Committee to the City Council.
The arts committee, appointed by the City Council at the recommendation of the mayor, would oversee public art projects such as murals.
Administrative Officer Michael Canales told the General Government Committee that even after holding many meetings and drafting the ordinance, there are still some questions that both the committee and the City Council should square away.
"There are still some lingering questions that come up that include what is the definition of art, does it include performing art, the full scope and reach this committee would have, and the impact of art on private property," Canales said.
Canales said Mayor Richard Alcombright had shown interest a year ago in creating the committee because all public art proposals went across his desk and he would prefer to give people who know more about art these responsibilities.
The administration had drafted the ordinance based on state laws and research on different committees throughout the country.
The five-member arts committee would be responsible for cataloging, advising and determining whether art is temporary or permanent among other responsibilities.
Canales said much of the committee's responsibilities will be determined after the committee is actually formed and has time to establish itself.
"We get the commission established first then we start broadening the scope, but the first step is to get the commission established," he said.
Brayton Elementary School art teacher Erica Manville recommended that the committee have someone who is responsible for maintaining the murals and other types of public art.
"These murals that are awesome, at some point or the other, will not be so awesome, and there needs to be someone who will figure it out," Manville said.
Canales said any sort of alteration of the murals or public art must be clearly stated in some sort of contract because of intellectual property rights.
"If it isn't well defined and there are areas where murals have deteriorated because we don't have a formal agreement with them and we want them to take it down, the artist can say 'I don't want to take it down,' " Canales said.
Canales said one of the first actions of the committee would be to work with the administration and draft a legal contract that will allow the city to do what they want with public art and define what permanent and temporary mean in terms of public art.
There were also concerns about what will happen to existing public art. Canales said he anticipates it will be a "tricky issue" legally. He said many of the previous contracts did not closely involve the city and worked through organizations such as DownStreet Art.
He said this is another item the committee will have to face when it forms.
Canales also mentioned creating a regulation that will govern what can be legally displayed. He cited the painted crosswalks on Main Street and how it would be illegal to paint any trafficlike symbols on the road.
He added that there will be no art the committee would not have jurisdiction over cemeteries and recommended making rules that make sure public art cannot be used for signage or advertisement.
Some citizens who attended the meeting felt the ordinance excluded performance art. Canales said it was difficult to write that into the ordinance because it is difficult to define performing art or art in general. He said any event must go through the Planning Board and many performances may fall under its purview.
Manville thought it would be helpful to not focus on defining what art is, but what an event is.
"I went to art school for four years, and I can't define what art is. It's debatable, but I think you can define an event," she said. "As a city, we can say aspects of art are considered an event in our city and therefore need a permit."
Canales suggesting adding an art section to the event permitting process. If an event affects the appearance of the city in any way, it would be directed to the Public Art Committee.
The draft ordnance said the mayor will recommend 10 people from which the City Council will choose five to serve for four- and five-year terms.
The ordinance must be reviewed by the city solicitor and then go through two readings by the City Council.
Committee member Nancy Bullet said she sees the committee as a resource for art in North Adams and believes it will connect art to the city in a stronger way.
"This is an exciting time I think because it is finally coming to fruition," Bullet said. "Artists that have been here for a long time will feel that connectedness, but also have the structure and yet non structure."
The committee also decided to send a right-to-farm ordinance to the City Council.
Clarification: Updated on Jan. 13, 2015, to note the committee would not have jurisdiction over cemeteries. That was not clear in the original sentence.
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