HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2001 City Council Agenda PacketMEETING DATE: August 18, 2001
ORIGINATING DEPT: Recreation
PREPARED BY: ~
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM:__~
SUBJECT: City Sponsored Arts Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Accept report and provide direction to staff.
REPORT SUMMARY:
City Councilmember Ann Waltonsmith requested that the City Council consider an increased
emphasis on the arts in Saratoga. Subsequently, the Mayor and Council asked to agendize the
issue for Council discussion. Staff has met with Councilmember Waltonsmith to discuss the issue
and identify program elements and possible levels of city involvement. The original concept was
for an increase in various visual art displays in public places. The City has several options
available for involvement to support, promote, and participate in a wide variety of art programs.
Therefore, the concept of a city sponsored art program is being brought to the City Council for
input and guidance.
Art Program Survey -
A survey of surrounding cities and current local programs was completed with the information
listed below.
Town of Los Gatos: The Town Council appoints nine members to an Arts Commission.
Commission members are involved in numerous cultural activities including a summer music in the
plaza program, awarding grants for special art projects, and a rotating art program in the Council
Chamber. The art for this program is replaced six times per year.
Los Altos: Los Altos did have an Arts Committee for many years, but the Council did not like the
way it was going so it was disbanded. They are planning to restructure it as a subcommittee
under the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Campbell: For the past 11 years the City has worked with the Campbell Artist Guild to provide
displays at City Hall. The Guild changes the display every two or three month and they are
responsible for all the paper work, selection and insurance.
Cupertino: Cupertino has two art groups. The Fine Arts Commission is made up of seven
members who are appointed by the City Council and are involved in all cultural events sponsored
by the City. They have a budget of $15,000 to be awarded as grants twice a year. The Fine Arts
League, a nonprofit group, is in charge of the monthly art rotation at the Quinlan Community
Center.
Saratoga Senior Center and Book Go Round: Both of these facilities have art displays provided
by the Saratoga Contemporary Artist group. The Book Go Round has their display changed
every two months and their only concern is the damage caused by the hangers and the constant
need to repair the holes in the walls.
Saratoga Library: For several years volunteers have handled the photo art display program at the
library. The art has been rotated every 3 or 4 months. The library has carried the insurance and
the volunteers handled everything else. The library staff is now looking at a new, more expansive
rotating art program to be in place when the library reopens.
In all agencies surveyed, staff involvement varied. Every city utilized volunteers and city staff
time was allocated at different levels. The cities that sponsored more expansiw~ arts programs
required more staff time.
Art Program Options
If the City of Saratoga is interested in becoming more involved in the arts, some options are listed
below.
Option 1. The City Council could establish a Cultural Arts Council/Commission. The City
Council' could provide direction on their expectations and then allow the Arts Council to expand
their role as the program matures. Besides a rotating art program they could promote and
support music and drama programs at Wildwood Park, work with Montalvo on co-sponsored
activities and involve themselves with a number of other cultural activities throughout the
community. If the City Council decides to move forward with this, they would need to decide on
the number of members on such a commission and the level of city staff involvement desired.
Option 2. The City Council could establish a Rotating Art Committee and recruit and appoint
members to a board to oversee this program. Members could identify locations for displays and
adopt a policy on submitting, judging and selecting the art. Guidelines for the program would
need to be established and insurance issues addressed.
Option 3. A local community art group could be recruited to institute and oversee a rotating art
program.
Option 4. City staff could work with library staff on a citywide art display program. If library
personnel is already working on a policy, and planning on implementing a new program, the city
could collaborate with them. The program could be expanded to include all City facilities, not
just the library.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The fiscal impact is unknown at this time. It depends on potential for City contribution to an Arts
Commission and the level of staff support provided to any future arts organization.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
The city would not sponsor an arts program.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Options are listed in report.
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
Follow direction given by City Council.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Nothing additional.
ATTACHMENTS:
None