Salt Lake City's Arts Council presented its annual public art maintenance and conservation report during the council's Nov. 25 work session, asking the council to note maintenance needs across the permanent collection and to support existing CIP allocations.

"As outlined in our percent for our ordinance, 1.5% of CIP funds are allocated for public art acquisition, installation and importantly maintenance," Public Art Program Manager Renato Gonzales told the council. Staff reported that for FY26 they are projecting maintenance and conservation work on 19 works with one potential deaccession due to insufficient conservability.

The presentation listed projected repair budgets for FY26 of approximately $53,450 (about $44,450 from the public art CIP and $10,000 reserved as a contingency). Staff also reported recent and partial completions for projects with combined expenditures of $67,760 (about $25,900 from public art CIP and $41,860 from public lands CIP).

Gonzales highlighted several conservation projects in progress or recently completed, including a major restoration at the International Peace Gardens (work coordinated with the artist's family), repairs to panels at "Pages of Salt," conservation of Japanese lanterns in the Peace Gardens, and work at Gallivan Center pieces such as "Utah Sandscape" and "Portal." He said the program is strategically maintaining 26 artworks across the permanent collection and that the public art CIP set-aside aims to ensure public safety and stewardship.

Councilmember Pietro asked whether the funding requested represented the total need or simply available allocations; staff said the need is greater than available funds and noted the city previously had a seed fund (about $200,000) that is no longer in place. Arts staff committed to provide council an "ideal world" funding projection to inform budget conversations.

Staff said they are coordinating with Public Lands CIP and the Community Redevelopment Agency on maintenance policy for partnered works and that certain 2D works in the building are ineligible for CIP maintenance funding, leaving a funding gap for those pieces.