Raleigh creates policy for public art displays

In the fall of 2013, a group of more than 70 neighbors, including City Councilor Bonner Gaylor, adorned the trees in Glenwood South with hand-knit sweaters

According to Gerald Bolas, the executive director in the Office of Raleigh Arts, no one saw it coming. The project had popped up on short notice, in the middle of winter, and because the sweaters were to be on public property, the only way the project could be authorized was through City Council approval. This triggered a debate about the best way for citizens to publicly display their artwork.

The debate reached its conclusion October 21, 2014, during the City Council meeting.

Citizens now have a clearly defined series of steps for featuring artwork on public property, whether that artwork is permanent or temporary, whether the artwork is featured on a public right-of-way or any other piece of public property.

“We wanted to define a process that empowers the city to work with citizens that have an idea for art on public property,” Bolas said.

The policy adopted on October 21 was worked on by both the Arts Commission and the Public Art and Design Board and is consistent with the Public Art Policy passed in 2011, which states that the Arts Commission has responsibility for the review and approval of temporary public art projects, while the Public Arts and Design Board has responsibility for the review and approval of permanent art projects with a value of $10,000 or greater.

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