Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a public art project using Percent for Art funding for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park (ICRP, Munis project #17085). In 2017, the Common Council approved an ordinance creating the City’s Percent for Art program (ORD-17-00104, file 47273). The ordinance requires that 1% of City-contributed funds for certain public works projects exceeding $5.0 million be set aside for public art beginning with the 2019 capital budget. Initial Percent for Art funding for ICRP was $86,704. RES-24-00103 (file 81621) authorized the transfer of $25,000 from the Metro Transit Satelite Facility project (Munis project #10950) per the allowable transfers outlined in the Percent for Arts ordinance. Percent for Art funding currently available for ICRP is $111,704. The cost for design, fabrication, delivery, and installation of the artwork is not to exceed $70,000. The cost for design, construction and installation of the foundation for the artwork is not to exceed $41,704. Any unspent funds upon completion of the project shall transfer to the Arts Aggregated Fund or the Art Maintenance and Conservation Fund as allowed by the Percent for Arts ordinance. No additional appropriation required.
Title
Approving the initial concept design and authorizing the City to execute an agreement for design, fabrication, delivery and installation between the City of Madison and Nate Page to create a site-specific public art feature for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park at 1818 Portage Road (District 17)
Body
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2024, the Common Council authorized staff to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select an artist to create a site-specific artwork for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park at 1818 Portage Road (RES-24-00103, File ID #81621); and
WHEREAS, on July 17, 2025, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for artists interested in creating public art proposals for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park; and
WHEREAS, by August 27, 2025, the deadline for submittals to the RFQ, the City received 32 applications; and
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2025, the Public Art Subcommittee scored applicants on Artistic Merit, Content, Experience, Feasibility and Local Vendor Preference, and voted to recommended to the Madison Arts Commission that the top four finalists be invited to submit design concepts for review; and
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2025, the Madison Arts Commission reviewed the recommendation of the Public Art Subcommittee and voted to approve the top four scoring applicants (Sujin Lim, Cooke-Sasseville, Nate Page and the team of Gabriela Marván, Flor Molina, Ryan Rothweiler) become finalists for and proceed to the design phase of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park Percent for Art Project; and
WHEREAS, on October 6, 2025, the finalists attended a day long, in-person orientation to visit the building site, meet with staff and stakeholders, and present public artist talks at Madison College Truax Campus; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2026, the finalists submitted their design concepts for the Imagination Center to the City; and
WHEREAS, a survey was issued to the public between January 30 and February 12, 2026, and over 1200 responses were received and results were shared with members of the Madison Arts Commission; and
WHEREAS, on February 15, 2026, the team Gabriela Marván, Flor Molina, Ryan Rothweiler withdrew from consideration because they could not produce their proposed design within the available budget; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2026, the Public Art Subcommittee heard proposal presentations from three different artist teams, scored, and voted to recommend that the Madison Arts Commission select Nate Page’s The Passage of Being for the Imagination Center Percent for Art Project, with Sujin Lim’s Silver lining: Where Dreams Flow as an alternate; and
WHEREAS, on February 18, 2026, the Madison Arts Commission voted to refer the final decision back to the Public Art Subcommittee to allow staff more time to collect opinions from students at Sandburg Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Alder Sabrina Madison coordinated an engagement opportunity with the principal of Sandburg Elementary; and
WHEREAS, on February 26, 2026 staff from the Madison Public Library along with Alder Sabrina Madison met with students in Sandburg Elementary art classes to discuss the public art proposals and to gather student input; and
WHEREAS, the Sandburg student responses were shared with members of the Public Art Subcommittee prior to their March 9, 2026, meeting to allow them to re-evaluate their scores based on the new information available from the neighboring elementary student stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2026, the Public Art Subcommittee of the Madison Arts Commission voted to recommended that the percent for art commission for the Imagination Center public art opportunity be awarded to Nate Page’s The Passage of Being, with Sujin Lim’s Silver lining: Where Dreams Flow as an alternate; and
WHEREAS, Nate Page will be contractually required to collaborate with appropriate City of Madison staff and commissions in finalizing the design details of the Imagination Center public art project; and
WHEREAS, if staff cannot reach an agreement with Nate Page by June 1, 2026, they may offer the public art opportunity to the selected alternate.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Madison Common Council approves the concept design of The Passage of Being, or the alternate Silver lining: Where Dreams Flow, for the site-specific Imagination Center at Reindahl Park Percent for Art Project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Purchasing Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute an agreement between the City of Madison and Nate Page, or the alternate Sujin Lim for up to $70,000 for all costs associated with the design, fabrication, delivery, and installation of the proposed artwork.
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED that the Purchasing Supervisor is hereby authorized to execute agreements totaling up to $41,704 for the design, structural engineering, construction, and installation of the foundation for the selected artwork.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that any unspent funds upon completion of the project shall transfer to the Arts Aggregated Fund or the Art Maintenance and Conservation Fund.