City of Sarasota Home

Submit Requests, Concerns, Feedback & Report Graffiti

Starting a Business

Occupational Licenses

Contractor Registration

Employment
(Within City + Links)

Doing Business With
The City of Sarasota

Economic Development

Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Partnership

Enterprise Zone

Building Department

Planning Department

Goals and Guidelines for

Selecting Works of Art for Public Spaces

Purpose:The purpose of these goals and guidelines is to provide policy direction for the selection of works of art in public spaces as provided for in the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs).The goals and guidelines are intended to provide policy direction for the selection and purchase of works of art using the City of Sarasota’s public art fund.These guidelines are not intended to address required works of art by developers as prescribed for in the LDRs.In the event of a conflict between the guidelines and the LDRs, the LDRs shall prevail.

I.  Selection Process for Works of Art:

The City should pursue the following general process for the selection of works of art:

A.  Request for Information from Artists:The City will maintain a directory of artists for the selection of future art works by periodically, as deemed necessary, requesting from artists information on current, available works suitable for exterior placement through:

1. a letter to artists (using existing lists on file with the City); and

2. advertisements in appropriate media.

B.  Evaluation of Available Works of Art:The PAC will evaluate available works of art using selection criteria, as outlined in items II and III below, and create a short list of available works of art;the PAC will consult with the Department of Public Works regarding the issues of maintenance, durability, safety and liability.Artists will be required to submit a statement of maintenance criteria with each work of art.

C.  Recommendation of Art Works and Sites:The PAC will recommend to the City Commission specific works of art to be acquired for selected sites.

D.  City Commission Action:After consideration of the PAC recommendations, the City Commission will take action regarding acquisition of works of art for specific sites.

E.  Artists Contracts:The City Attorney’s Office will develop contracts between the City and selected artists (addressing Visual Arts Rights Act and other relevant issues) for the acquisition and installation of selected art works.

F.  Installation of Works of Art:Installation of the works of art at selected sites by the artists or the City as prescribed in the contracts between the City and each artist.

II.  Site Selection Criteria:

The following criteria should be used for the selection of sites for works of art:

A. Ownership:The site should be owned by the City or there should be assurance that an agreement for its use is attainable.

B. Public Exposure: The site should afford maximum public exposure.

C. Accessibility: The site should be easily accessible and inviting to pedestrians.

D. Surveillance:The site should provide for natural surveillance to minimize opportunities for vandalism.

E. City’s Vision and Goals:The site should be compatible with the City’s vision and goals.

III.  Works of Art Selection Criteria:

In the long term, the Public Art Committee will strive to recommend to the City Commissioners works of art which reflect a balance between existing purchased works and commissioned site specific works; moderately priced works and more costly works; traditional works and contemporary works; and works by regional and national artists.In the near term, the Public Art Committee recommends to the City Commissioner the purchase of existing, moderately priced works by primarily regional artists.The works should include both traditional and contemporary style works, located on City-owned sites.Such a balance of art works will make the best use of currently available funds, provide positive visibility for the City’s public art program and offer works which please a broad segment of the community.

A. Artistic Excellence:The work of art should be of exceptional quality and enduring value.

B. Appropriateness to Site:The work of art should create a positive relationship to the existing and planned scale and character of its site.

C. Initial Cost:The total cost of the art work including all items related to its installation should be considered.

D. Cost to Maintain - Durability:The cost of the maintenance of the art work should be considered and quantified particularly if the work of art requires extraordinary maintenance such as any special servicing due to periodic adjustment, repainting, repair or replacement of moving parts.

E. Broad Range of Artistic Styles and Media:The works of art in the total program should reflect a broad range of artistic styles and media from traditional to contemporary works of art in order to maintain an overall balance.

F. Safety and Liability:The works of art should not result in safety hazards nor cause extraordinary liability exposure to the City.

G. Representative of City’s Cultural Diversity:The works of art in the total program should reflect the City’s cultural diversity.

H. Inclusion of Local Artists:The works of art in the total program should include works by local artists and artists from outside the City and region.

I. City’s Vision and Goals:The works of art shall be supportive of the City’s vision and goals.