What defines public art, and who decides whether a piece of artwork is “good,” or the right fit for a particular public space?

Answers to those questions have eluded city officials in the past, as in the case of a controversial proposal to install a “Time Myth” sculpture in the Open Space in 2008, or a recent Coast Guard Committee effort to erect a 20-foot steel sculpture near Grandview Parkway. But the newly formed Traverse City Arts Commission is hoping to eliminate confusion around public art by creating a step-by-step process for reviewing proposals – as well as a plan to actively recruit artists to improve public spaces.

“The first task we had as an Arts Commission was to create a public art master plan,” explains Mary Gillett, who chairs the body that formed in May. On Thursday, the nine arts commissioners – including five public appointees and representatives from the city commission, planning commission, parks and recreation commission and Downtown Development Authority – released a draft copy of Traverse City’s proposed art master plan.

The 29-page document, visually laid out with professional artwork and photography, provides clear definitions and examples of public art, processes for approving and commissioning artwork, and policies for maintenance, donations, collection oversight and art disposal. “In the past, anytime anyone has come to the city with a proposal, it’s been an informal process and very subjective,” says arts commissioner Christie Minervini, owner of Gallery 50. “This is much more detailed, and protects not only the city but the artists.”

Categories of public art encouraged in the plan include murals, functional (benches, lighting), interactive, environmental, temporary (art on loan), kinetic, technological, landscape and water. The plan outlines a set of “guiding principles” that will inform decision-making around public art, such as inclusivity, diversity, innovation, feasibility, education and preservation.

Proposals that come before the city will go through both the arts and city commissions for conceptual approval – measured against criteria outlined in the plan – followed by an RFP for artists. A five-member Art Selection Panel will be responsible for interviewing and selecting artists for projects. Both the city and DDA have also established line items in their annual budgets to support a Public Arts Trust Fund, which arts commissioners can use to proactively commission new artwork, as well as apply for matching grants and donations. The city allocated $10,000 to the fund in 2015-16; the DDA has $13,700 earmarked this budget cycle.

Public engagement is another component of the new process. Arts commissioners will hold public input sessions on Tuesday, September 29 at 7pm and Monday, October 5 at 12pm at the Governmental Center to present the master plan and get feedback before formalizing the document for official city adoption. 

Gillett says residents can also soon apply to serve on the Art Selection Committee – city residency isn’t required, but strong backgrounds in visual arts or arts administration will be preferred – and to participate in ongoing public charettes that identify potential sites for public art and desired types of art projects and events. The first proposal to go through the new planning process could be a proposed memorial for the late DDA Executive Director Bryan Crough, says Minervini. “There is a timeline with a grant from Rotary Charities for that, so that could be our first project,” she says.

Gillett hopes both the new art master plan and the Arts Commission will serve as “a catalyst” to expand public art in the city. “Our region is one of the most culturally rich areas in the state,” Gillett says. “This is an opportunity to broaden that creative spirit. We can show that public art is a priority here, and invest in something that will be a gift to the community both now and for future generations."