Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Art Program Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reports: public art trust grows, rail-trail guidance sought, Friends of Ruth Blay to donate remaining funds
Summary
The Public Art Committee reported a $50,000 trust balance, an added $25,000 in the CIP for public art, HDC feedback on the Judy Schubert mural, the rail-trail nonprofit planning public-art guidelines, Friends of Ruth Blay planning to donate remaining funds to the public art trust, and plans to promote public art at an August Street Life event.
Members of the Portsmouth Public Art Committee reviewed several program updates: the committee’s trust fund balance, Historic District Commission (HDC) feedback on a mural, early conversations with a rail-trail nonprofit about public art guidelines, a donation offer from the Friends of Ruth Blay group, and plans to use the Chamber’s August Street Life event to raise public-art awareness.
A committee member reported the public art trust holds about $50,000 and noted the city’s capital-improvement program included another $25,000 for public art in the recent budget. The committee discussed the Judy Schubert mural and said the HDC did not approve an unmodified mural; the HDC suggested a smaller treatment, and the committee expects a reduced-size version to move forward after the artist organizers raise additional funds.
Committee members said they met with a nonprofit that is organizing the rail trail (the local organization covers the New Hampshire length of the rail trail and extends to Seabrook). The nonprofit plans to draft guidelines for public art proposals on the rail trail; the committee recommended the nonprofit get ahead of graffiti and expressed willingness to supply examples and guidance. A committee member noted some bridges already show graffiti and urged timely guideline work.
The Friends of Ruth Blay group — a volunteer nonprofit that previously undertook mural work — told the committee it intends to turn its remaining funds over to the city’s public art trust and move toward administrative dissolution. A representative said the group would ask City Council to accept the donation into the public art trust because the group itself cannot accept city-dedicated donations. "We will present it to the city council because we ourselves can't just take donations," a Friends of Ruth Blay representative said.
The committee also reported a planned presence at the Chamber-led Street Life event on Aug. 13 (rain date Aug. 14), where organizers expect 350 to 400 attendees; the committee plans to use centerpieces and handouts to showcase public-art projects and raise awareness and potential donors.
Inventory updates: members noted several pieces have been removed or damaged (for example, a bowsprit installation above Martin Gale Wharf had fallen and been removed); the committee said it would reclassify some pieces as "historic" in the inventory to preserve records of works that are no longer on public display.
Separately, committee members discussed a possible bench funding split for Bohinkel Gateway Park and agreed they need more cost information before pairing that with the larger sculpture discussion.
The committee asked staff to continue outreach with the rail-trail nonprofit, to prepare the Friends of Ruth Blay donation for City Council acceptance, and to use the Aug. 13 Street Life event as a public-awareness and fundraising opportunity.
