Weber County approves agreement with Ogden Contemporary Arts for artwork at Children's Justice Center

The Weber County Commission approved an agreement to contract with Ogden Contemporary Arts to provide curation and artwork services for the new Weber Morgan Children's Justice Center. The commission approved the motion during its meeting; the agreement will have the county contract directly with Ogden Contemporary Arts while the Friends of the Weber Morgan Children's Justice Center provide the funds for the art program.

Commissioners and project partners said the artwork is intended to make the center welcoming and to support healing for children who use the facility. "When Scott came to me with this project, and I got a tour of the building, I mean, I was in tears," Vanessa Castagnoli, executive director of Ogden Contemporary Arts, said of her first visit and the project's significance.

The Friends board will continue to own the building asset while Weber County assumes ownership of the new facility and the county will hold a contract with Ogden Contemporary Arts to manage the artwork elements. "This is a public private partnership that works really well. This building is a win win win for us, for the county, for the center," said Colby Dustin, a Friends board member who described the board's fundraising efforts and support for the project.

Project lead Rod Leighton described the transition of ownership and the change in the Friends board role: "So this is now, we're transitioning over to where Weber County will own the building. And the Friends will be more involved in the program side of it." Leighton also highlighted the decision to have the county hold the contract with Ogden Contemporary Arts so the Friends board does not have to manage a changing curatorial program.

Officials said the Friends board has been raising money to support the center, and noted prior county funding: a commissioner recalled that the county contributed a large portion of the facility's construction funding from ARPA earlier in the project and said city partners also contributed. The Friends board indicated it will provide funds for the artwork; a Friends representative said they had previously sought $125,000 from the county for project-related costs.

Vanessa Castagnoli described the program approach: exhibitions and a mural that children and staff will help create, an artist selection committee that will include people familiar with the facility's clients and staff, and continuing art workshops for children, parents and staff so that the arts work is ongoing rather than a one-time installation. "We're going to bring in a selection committee to help make these decisions," Castagnoli said, and added that the arts partner will continue programming after installation to avoid projects that "walk away."

Commission discussion emphasized the value of integrating art into public buildings; one commissioner compared the concept to a 3–5% set‑aside for public art used in prior state building projects and said the artwork would give the center a more finished, user-friendly feel. Commissioners moved to approve the agreement as presented and the motion carried by voice vote.

The contract approved will be between Weber County and Ogden Contemporary Arts; the Friends of the Weber Morgan Children's Justice Center will provide the funds for the artwork and assist on program decisions. County staff confirmed donated funds held by the county will be segregated in a restricted fund so donations remain tagged for their intended purpose.

The commission's action authorizes county staff to execute the agreement with Ogden Contemporary Arts for curation and artwork services at the Weber Morgan Children's Justice Center. The county will assume ownership of the new facility while Friends will focus on programmatic support.