Bluffton, wanting more art, will buy and commission works for placement around town.
The town of Bluffton is looking to expand its art collection and display artworks throughout the town.
The Bluffton Town Council last week unanimously passed a resolution that adopted the Town of Bluffton’s Public Art Policy.
“We’re growing so fast, people that are coming in may not necessarily understand the history of the community and what makes it so great,” Town Manager Stephen Steese said. “Some of our local artisans may be able to explain that through art and show some of the things that represent the history of the community.”
Under the policy, the town can purchase art, accept donations and commission work from artists.
Purchasing or commissioning art will be funded mostly through hospitality and accommodation taxes, but also through donations from the town’s Parks and Public Arts charitable fund. While the budget for the program has yet to be established, Steese said the town may start with $50,000 to see how far that can go.
“We don’t know exactly what [the budget] is going to look like yet,” Steese said. “ It depends on what materials people are working in and it depends on what the committee recommends.”
The cost of art maintenance and security, with the town looking to use cameras and glass cases to deter possible vandals, will also be included in the budget.
When asked why the town will spend taxpayers’ money on art, Steese said increasing the art in Bluffton will draw in more tourists and thus bring in more income.
Any art that Bluffton acquires will become part of the town’s municipal art collection. Loaned art is the exception, as it will still be owned by the artist, but temporarily displayed by the town. The town is considering having locations with rotating art pieces.
The town will make an effort to ensure that the art isn’t just going to old town as well. As the town works on capital projects, it can make sure that public art has the opportunity to be involved, said Steese.
While no specific locations have been identified, any capital project will be eligible for art through the policy. Projects like the New Riverside Barn Park, renovations to existing parks or the restoration of historic buildings are likely to include some of the town’s art pieces.
Bluffton will only be able to place art on land it owns. However, through partnerships with private owners, the town will be able to place art on private land, with the town remaining responsible for maintenance, installation and any possible removal.
If a private owner wants to put art on their property, they do not have to go through the town’s policy to do so.
Why are they doing this?
The town wanted a policy for art so that there were guidelines for what would be acceptable and what would not, Steese said.
“When somebody wants to give us a piece of art, we want to make sure it’s something that is acceptable, that meets standards and also is something that can fit where they’re wanting to place it,” Steese said.
The policy creates a public art committee that will be responsible for overseeing the overall care of art within the municipal collection making recommendations about obtaining or relinquishing art to the Town Council and recruiting artists for commissioned work. Members of the committee will be appointed by the Town Council.
Town Council will make the final decision on the approval of all art and can even do so without involving the public art committee, if they chose too.
The following criteria will be considered by the committee and Town Council when reviewing art projects:
▪ Aesthetic quality and artistic merit
▪ Placement
▪ Fabrication, handling and installation
▪ Maintenance requirements
▪ Liability and safety
Various forms of artwork can be accepted under the policy ranging from photographs, paintings and murals to sculptures, light-based and sound-based art.
“A lot of it’s going to depend on who may want to work with us,” Steese said.
The policy outlines the town’s ability to remove art from their collection as well. Any proceeds from the sale of the town’s art will be strictly used for the purchase of new art or the care and maintenance of artistic pieces it owns.
