Draft Document – 5-30-2019 Aurora Public Art Commission Programs, Policies and Procedures Drafted June 2019 Innovation and Core Services Department Community Services Division Public Art Sub-division CONTENTS I. Terms II. Introduction III. Facilities IV. Policy Scope and Objectives V. Anti-Discrimination; Hate Speech and Obscenity Prohibited VI. Roles and Responsibilities Director of Public Art Aurora Public Art Commission VII. Procedures i. Flex Space 1. Application Process 2. Selection 3. Contracts 4. Artist Responsibilities ii. City Hall 5. Application Process 6. Selection 7. Contracts 8. Artist Responsibilities iii. Third Floor Gallery 9. Selection Process 10. Contracts 11. Exhibit Timeline iv. Public Space Projects 12. Small-Scale Outdoor Projects a. Timeline b. Application Process c. Selection d. Contracts e. Maintenance. f. Outdoor Wall Murals g. Timeline h. Application Process i. Selection j. Contracts k. Insurance l. Maintenance VIII. Compliance with Local Ordinance/Right to Amend X. Appendix EXHIBIT A: Public Art Review Rubric EXHIBIT B: Considerations Based on Proposed Location EXHIBIT C: Flexspace Objectives and Guidelines EXHIBIT D: Flexspace RFP EXHIBIT E: Flexspace Artist Contract EXHIBIT F: Artist Contract: Third Floor Gallery/City Hall EXHIBIT G: Third Floor Exhibit Cycle Timeline EXHIBIT H: Utility Box Mural RFP (Sample) EXHIBIT I: Utility Box Mural Contract (Sample) EXHIBIT J: R16-207, Section 8.4, Murals, of the City of Aurora Zoning Ordinance EXHIBIT K: Public Art Muralist RFQ (Sample) EXHIBIT L: Public Art Mural Contract (Preliminary Design) 2 CONTACT Jennifer Evans Director of Public Art Email: [email protected] Web: www.aurora-il.org/329/Public-Art-Commission, FaceBook and Instagram @AuroraPublicArt 3 I. TERMS APAC – Aurora Public Art Commission is a public body established by the City of Aurora by Ordinance. The Commission has 9 members appointed by the Mayor and City Council and has oversight of the City’s Public Art program. The commission’s general functions are established in Chapter 6, Division 4, Section 2-461 of the City Code of Ordinances. Deaccessioning - The procedure followed to remove an artwork from the public art collection. Decision Packages – Decision packages are formal requests required for any new program or single expenditure that is new or additional that is over $5,000. The decision package includes information that is necessary for the budgetary decision making process. Design Review Committee - The full name of the DRC is the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee. Flexspace - This is a space where the community in conjunction with the City can host a variety of activities including art exhibits, educational programs, ceremonies, receptions, performances and other events. Use of the space can range from one day up to 30 days. Exhibits lasting for periods of time need approval. The Flex Space is located in the DLP Art & History Center on the first floor. Multi-disciplinary - combining or involving different academic disciplines or professional specializations in an approach to a topic or problem. Placemaking - a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public RFP – Request for proposals RFQ – Request for qualifications Third Floor Gallery - The Third Floor Gallery of the DLP Art and History Center is a space for premiere art exhibits. The exhibits consist of original artwork and shows have a longer duration of 30-90 days. These exhibits are by invitation only and are curated by the Aurora Public Art Director. II. INTRODUCTION The Aurora Public Art Commission was initiated in the 1960s and is a civic organization dedicated to the presentation of public art in all its forms. The Public Art Commission provides a formal art presence for the residents of the City of Aurora. General functions include curation and project management of public murals and sculpture, developing programs in art education, supporting local artists, and establishing an exhibition schedule for the Aurora Public Art Commission Galleries. III. FACILITIES Since 1996, Aurora Public Art has hosted a variety of exhibits on the first and third floor galleries of the DLP. In 2018, there were over 8,000 visitors to the Public Art Galleries. In addition to regular gallery hours, Wednesdays - Saturdays, 12-4PM, the DLP is open during First Fridays and other special events. 4 Aurora Public Art manages art curation, installation and management of all Public Art- Commissioned outdoor sculptures and murals as well as the following municipal gallery spaces: Third Floor Gallery: A formal, white-wall, contemporary gallery in the light-filled third floor of the DLP (square feet) with 30-foot ceilings, 12-foot windows, and 200 running feet of display space. Flexspace: A less formal (1,200 square feet with 80 linear feet of wall space) gallery space on the first floor of the DLP, intended as a multi-use space for community members interested in the arts. City Hall: Aurora Public Art has displayed 2D artwork by local and regional artists, since 2005. The City Council Chambers has 50 linear feet for hanging artwork. There is additional wall space in the hallways of the 1st and 5th floor in City Hall, at 44 E. Downer Place in Downtown Aurora. Public Art Sculpture Garden: Located to the west of 20 East Downer Place, this 1,500 square foot green space has been converted into a sculpture garden, with stone benches created by sculptor Walter Arnold, and rotating sculptures on lease. IV. POLICY SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES Whenever possible, seek to collaborate with existing community organizations to meet the evolving arts-related needs of the community. Encourage the involvement of local artists and a broad range of City residents in Public Art endeavors. Contribute to the City’s growing creative economy by way of supporting local artists. Provide space for local artists to independently curate, exhibit, perform, or teach art. Actively seek to serve and hire individuals of gender, race, language, ability, and identity reflective of community demographics. Provide programming appropriate for a broad viewing audience and sensitive to local context. Provide museum-quality exhibits, including interactive experiences and associated programming, as an educational tool for the community and a destination for visitors to the City. Seek to balance challenging artwork with conceptually accessible artwork, within each exhibit. Seek to hire a range of local and well-known artists. Contribute to Economic Development through creative placemaking. Provide project management for Public Art murals and projects outlined in the Downtown Development Plan. Develop a Public Art strategy that looks ahead to the City’s specific needs and goals. V. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION; HATE SPEECH AND OBSCENITY PROHIBITED The City of Aurora, Aurora Public Art Commission, the Department of Public Art, and the Public Art Director are committed to ensuring that its programs are free of discrimination, and that individuals of all backgrounds and demographics are afforded equal opportunity to participate. Accordingly, no individual shall be denied the opportunity to participate, nor shall any artwork be denied, based on an individual or applicant’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or unfavorable discharge from military service. Discrimination based on any of these protected classes is expressly prohibited by these policies and procedures. 5 In addition, in accordance with this Section, in the judgment of the Director of Public Art and/or the Public Art Commission, artwork appearing to discriminate against a protected class, or which appears to promote imminent lawless action and/or obscenity, the latter of which is defined by 720 ILCS 5/11-20, will not be permitted. VI. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Director of Public Art o City Executive Staff o Program Development o Project Management o Gallery Curation o Public Art Commission Advisor o City/Art Community Liaison o Inter-Departmental Collaboration o Community Organizations/Institutions Collaboration Public Art Commission o 9 Aurora Residents, Appointed by Mayor’s Office/Approved by City Council o 2-Year Terms, (currently without observed term limits) o Meet in open session every two months or as needed o Provide Community Input on Public Art Needs/Wants o Provide Approval for Public Art Projects o Volunteer at Events/Provide In-Kind Donations o The Commission to the greatest extent feasible will recruit a racially and gender diverse composition VII. PROCEDURES i. Flexspace Community- initiated exhibits, projects, and events on the first floor of the DLP Application Process . Individuals or groups are invited to submit proposals to use the Flexspace for art events and exhibits. (See Exhibit C: Flexspace Guidelines) . A link to an online form is available on the COA Public Art website. https://www.aurora-il.org/1952/Calls-for-Artists . This form is a simplified RFP for non-professional artists; the application process is intended to be inclusive. (See Exhibit D: Flexspace RFP) . There is currently no limit to the number of proposals a group or individual can submit. Proposals submitted by groups/more than one individual must indicate a single contact person for communication with Public Art regarding the proposal. o Selection of Artists/Artworks/Projects . Consideration of “Public Art Review Rubric” (Exhibit “A”)