History of The Urbana Public Arts Program and Commission

City Council Common Goal Initiative

The Creation of an Urbana Public Arts Program was identified in September of 2005 as a Common Goal Initiative of the Urbana City Council. The following implementation strategies were recommended in this initiative:
  • Establish a dedicated revenue stream for public art.

  • Encourage the preservation and commemoration of local and multicultural traditions and histories.

  • Integrate art into every feasible public works project.

  • Create a public art program that represents our community in all its diversity – in terms of race, geography, gender, class, sexual orientation, belief-system, etc.

  • Provide opportunities for local, regional, and national artists, both established and emerging.

  • Develop a strong public collection of artworks representing diverse communities, artistic styles, and disciplines.

  • Establish a public arts commission.

Public Arts Task Force

In November of 2006, a Public Arts Task Force was formed to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a Public Arts Program and Commission. The Task Force held its first meeting in March, 2007 and met monthly for one year while collecting public input, evaluating programs in other cities, and surveying existing local opportunities in the arts.

Members

The following members of the public dedicated significant time and energy by serving on the Public Arts Task Force. These members provided invaluable perspectives as residents, artists, administrators, and teachers.

Danielle Chynoweth, Chair, Graphic Design, Audio
Michael Carberry, Musician, Arts Educator
Gregory Chew, Director and Drama Teacher, Urbana High School
Lisa Costello, Director, Parkland Art Gallery
Lisa Fay, Choreographer-Composer
Benjamin Grosser, Artist, Designer, Composer
Robin Hall, Director, Office of Recreation and Parks Resources, U of I
Barbara Hedlund, Musician, Teacher, Publisher
Karma Ibsen, Theater Director
Sharon Irish, Art/Architectural history researcher, U of I
Robin Kearton, Musician, Director of Bow-Dacious String Band
Jessie Knox, Artist, Cartographer
M. Cynthia Oliver, Choreographer/Associate Director of Dance, U of I
Susan Parenti, Composer, Teacher
Ann Coddington Rast, Professor of Art, Eastern Illinois University
Megan Wolf, Director of Development, 40 North / 88 West
Theodore Zernich, Former Professor and Director, U of I School of Art and Design

Collecting Public Input

The 2007 Community Input Report is the outcome of an extensive public involvement program conducted by the Public Arts Task Force as part of its work to collect public input regarding the Urbana Public Arts Program. The Report documents and summarizes input gathered from local artists, arts organizations, members of the business community, and the general public during a variety of public input sessions in 2007.

The Community Input Report focuses on public input regarding community involvement in the arts, common goals from various stakeholder groups, common barriers to meeting goals in the arts, and recommendations on projects to be pursued by a Public Arts Program. The Report can be read below.
Public Arts Program 2007 Community Input Report

During the public input process, several presentations were given to participants. These presentations can be viewed below.

Arts and Economic Prosperity Presentation for Developer’s Round Table Luncheon, September 2007
Public Arts Overview Presentation for Luncheon for Artists and Arts-related Organizations, November 2007

Meetings On-line and On Channel 6, UPTV

The Urbana Public Access Television (UPTV) recorded and regularly broadcast the Public Arts Task Force Meetings. The link below provides access to archived videos of the Public Arts Task Force meetings.

Video Archive of Public Arts Task Force Meetings

Additionally, the meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the City website. These documents can be accessed through the links below.

Public Arts Task Force Meeting Agendas
Public Arts Task Force Meeting Minutes

Public Arts Task Force Recommendation for a Public Arts Program and Commission

After a year of collecting public input, researching other municipal public arts programs, and drafting a program unique to Urbana, the Public Arts Task Force prepared a recommendation for a Public Arts Program and Public Arts Commission for the City of Urbana. The proposal which was accepted by the City Council on April 14th, 2008, is available on the link below. This proposal will serve as a guiding document for the Public Arts Commission as they further develop the Public Arts Program.
Public Arts Task Force Recommendation for a Public Arts Program and Commission

Establishment of a Public Arts Commission and Program

The Urbana City Council established a Public Arts Commission and Program for the City of Urbana on April 21st, 2008. On July 14th, 2008, members of the Public Arts Commission were appointed. Click on the sidebar for more information.

A summary presentation by staff illustrating the municipal public arts context is available on the link below. The ordinance establishing the Public Arts Commission and Program is also posted on the link below.

Presentation with an update on the Urbana Public Arts Program and Public Arts Programs in the US
Ordinance Establishing a Public Arts Program and Commission

Public Arts Commission Members

Adopting Ordinance

PATF Proposal

Community Input Report

Presentations:

PA Programs in US

11/2007 Presentation

Arts and Economic Prosperity