CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the staff report and approve the recommendations regarding creating a Public Art program administered by the City of Naperville
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Pam Gallahue, PhD, Director-City Clerk
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
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BACKGROUND:
At its February 4, 2020 meeting under New Business, the City Council directed staff to discuss the future of public art with the SECA Commission, Century Walk, community members, and other interested parties and to bring back recommendations for developing a public art strategic plan. As a follow-up, on June 16, 2020 under New Business, the City Council asked about the status of the February 4 direction. The city manager responded that staff from the City Clerk's Office and members of the SECA Commission began meeting in February to discuss the development of a public art strategic plan, but challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic forced the initiative to stall until just recently. He said that staff will bring an update to the Council on July 21.
DISCUSSION:
The Vision
Public art is how a municipality can showcase its heritage, values, and vision. Over the years, advancements in art mediums have generated opportunities to expand beyond murals, sculptures, and reliefs. By embracing new media and technology, and taking a wholistic approach as to how the City views and approves art, Naperville can position itself to challenge and surprise the public while providing an intersection between the past, present, and future.
The Need
Even prior to the recent national events, the City of Naperville realized it had a responsibility to advocate for, and be the leader of, a more diverse and strategic art program. The spring incidents of civil unrest only reinforced the urgency to apply the city's goals of innovation and inclusivity to a public art program. Furthermore, the City is currently aware of disparate, and potentially...
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