Mercer Island Arts Council backs six-year public-art work plan and updated program guidelines

The Mercer Island Arts Council voted unanimously March 19 to recommend that the city council adopt an updated six-year Art in Public Places work plan, an updated prioritized project opportunities list and revised guidelines for administering the city’s public-art program.

The recommendation follows a presentation by Sarah Blavas, capital-improvement-project (CIP) project manager, who told the Arts Council the draft plan consolidates three documents into a single public-art program guide and includes edits from earlier meetings. "We are back tonight to discuss the 6 year art in public places work plan," Blavas said, noting staff moved 1% fund tracking to an appendix and added a table of contents and other clarifying edits.

The work-plan documents are intended to guide the Arts Council and city staff in identifying and prioritizing public-art projects over the next six years. Blavas told the council the plan includes an updated project…