Public Meeting

I attended the Public Art Program meeting, this meeting was held by Bill Iverson who is the project manager. There are seven people who make up this committee; they range from architects to art councils, to citizens with knowledge of the arts.
This meeting was rather interesting, and I learned things that I never knew existed. Some interesting fact that Bill pointed out in this meeting was the how the public art program is funded. One percent of a new construction goes to public art, but there is a cap 200,000. There are various projects underway, but what the committee is concentrating on right now is the rewriting of the ordinance. The discussions revolve around what is going to changed, or updated. One of the things that is definitely going to change is that the meetings will be held every other month, along with various things. The two recent projects that are in the works is the South Shore Regional Library in Sun City and right in our backyard Mosi.
The process in which an artist is chosen is unique. First step is sending out all the information, and ads to everyone in the “art world”, in this over one hundred artist apply. From this point is where the committee will then chose three artist and pay them 1,000 to enter in proposal. They then proceed to presenting it to the committee and after much negotiation only one artist is chosen.
This meeting informed me of a lot of things I did not know. First I never knew there was such thing as an art committee. Then to find out that one percent of a new construction goes to art. That amazed me; sometimes things like this are taken for granted. Bill pointed out one statue in front of one of the buildings that was done by the public art committee that cost 400,000; in this case there was an exception for this piece. I also found out that pretty much everything has its own art program, for example Tampa International Airport, and us here at University of South Florida which is the most recognized in an academic institution. One of the most famous on campus is the sun-dial.
Overall this meeting was incredibly informative and interesting. I found out how the process works in putting up an art piece to what is in the books for the future. Bill Iverson was very helpful, he gave me a business card and was willing to help and answer any questions that I had.

Contact:
William D. Iverson
Project Manager
813-307-1070
email-iverson@hillsboroughcoutny.org