Another major step toward advancing the arts in the City Beautiful took place on Sept. 14 when the City of Coral Gables officially adopted a Public Art Master Plan that is set to enhance the display of world-class artwork in public spaces.
A five-year work plan was approved along with funding goals and implementation guidelines. The work plan focuses attention on downtown Coral Gables where major investments in the public realm will occur.
The Art in Public Places Program, which took effect in February 2010, has two distinct goals: The first is to preserve and protect the city’s historic public art; the second is to commission and exhibit new public artworks that enhance the character and identity of the city, contribute to economic development and tourism and add beauty and interest to public spaces.
As part of this new program, city-initiated construction projects are required to contribute to the Historic Public Art Fund, while non-city construction projects, other than single family homes, of $1 million or more are required to contribute one percent to the Art Acquisition Fund.
Eligible projects can be sculptures, functional elements such as artist-designated gates, pavilions, pergolas, and fountains; landscape elements such as walkways and gardens, and architecturally integrated features such as mosaics and metalwork.
The Cultural Development Board will make recommendations to the city commission regarding projects using the Art Acquisition Fund while the Historic Preservation Board will provide input with regards to projects funded by the Historic Public Art Fund.
The Art in Public Places Program is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Arts Council, and National Endowment of the Arts.
For more information, contact the Economic Sustainability Department at 305-460-5311.
The Art in Public Places Program, which took effect in February 2010, has two distinct goals: The first is to preserve and protect the city’s historic public art; the second is to commission and exhibit new public artworks that enhance the character and identity of the city, contribute to economic development and tourism and add beauty and interest to public spaces.
Wise decision.Thumbs up for Coral Gables city, which it should be expanded to all cities in Miami Dade. Miami is a city lacking of public arts structures as statues of famous celebrities who has contrituited to cultural development of this city.This decision should be adopted by the other cities of the Dade County, like Doral, kendall, Little Havana, Miami Beach.