Fiscal Note
No appropriation is necessary.
Title
Accepting City Ownership of Artwork in the newly renovated Madison Central Library and affirming the value of involving artists in the design of capital projects
Body
WHEREAS, Madison's Public Art Plan recommends that artists be included as collaborators in the design of all of Madison's major capital projects so that their work inform the project's direction; and
WHEREAS, when the intention that art and design shape the overall form of a major civic building project is met with cooperation from architects, engineers, staff, donors and other critical members of the project team, it is possible to create an exceptionally beautiful and functional public space; and
WHEREAS, the public art plan for the Central Library was to create a public space that 1) celebrated existing works of art by carefully conserving them and giving them new life in a fresh context, 2) provided local artists with the opportunity to contribute artist-made-parts to the project as sub-contractors to the architects, 3) commissioned significant new contemporary sculptural installations that harmoniously bridge the old and the new, and 4) created temporary exhibition opportunities for local visual, new media, installation and performance artists; and
WHEREAS, the Madison's Central Library accomplished the goals set forth in the public art plan and now serves as a model of the type of arts-integrated design that is possible when artistic visions and ideas inspire an entire project; and
WHEREAS, a design team consisting of architects, staff members, Madison Public Library Foundation board members and staff, and local arts professionals actively participated in selecting specific works of art, funding their creation, and identifying locations for their placement; and
WHEREAS, the selected artworks reflect a broad based community enthusiasm for conserving beloved works from the old library and commissioning contemporary pieces for the newl...
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