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Covington arts leaders push statue-leasing plan for public art, track crosswalk and light-box projects
Summary
Arts and economic-development presenters described a plan to lease public ‘Karma’ statues to businesses instead of selling them, reported progress on decorative crosswalk and light-box installations, and said the art-box rollout remains delayed by winter weather.
Arts and economic-development representatives told the City Council on Jan. 28 that the city is pursuing a leasing model to deploy two public ‘Karma’ statues and that additional public-art projects are moving ahead, though some installations have been delayed by weather.
Riley, speaking for the Arts Commission, said commissioners favor leasing statutes to businesses rather than selling pieces outright because leasing allows the city to retain maintenance responsibility. "I really like the idea of leasing it because that way we can maintain them instead of just having a business buy them outright," Riley said.
Economic-development staff earlier in the meeting described coordination with the Karma statue project and said a leasing option would make the program more approachable for businesses that lack upfront capital.
Riley also reported progress on a decorative crosswalk proposal; he said there will be a meeting on the ordinance in February and that he will update the commission after that discussion. He reported that of five planned light-box locations, only one has been installed so far because weather delayed the remainder; a new call for artwork is expected in summer 2025 if additional electric boxes become available.
Riley said a glass-blown art piece that was damaged will require a full replacement because it cannot be identically replicated; the Arts Commission will place that item on its February agenda to decide whether to commission a replacement from the same artist or issue a new call for artwork.
Councilmembers asked for follow-up and thanked the Arts Commission for the work. No ordinance votes or funding commitments were made at the Jan. 28 council meeting.
