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The City of Tampa Public Art Program celebrates the city’s deep commitment to the arts, and houses a broad collection that spans Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard, downtown plazas, municipal buildings, and city parks. Here are some FAQ’s about the program: What is Public Art?Public Art is an enhancement to the urban environment. Public Art improves the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike in creating spaces and/or places that offer a sense of community, a space for contemplation, and/or invite visitors to the community to participate in it’s unique works of art.What is the mission of the Tampa Public Art Program, what are its goals?To promote the involvement of artists in projects throughout the city, to enhance the physical environment, and celebrate Tampa’s unique character and identity. There are six primary goals of the Tampa Public Art Program: oversee the City of Tampa’s Public Art Collection; enhance the physical environment of Tampa with artworks of the highest level of quality and suitability for the site; serve as the coordinating body for all Public Art and memorial projects on City property; build partnerships with the private sector, non-profit and community groups that connect the Tampa Public Art Program’s projects to the life of the City; encourage participation by artists based in the City and Tampa Bay region; serve as an active source of information about Public Art.How old is the Tampa Public Art Program?The Tampa Public Art Program started in 1985 when many other programs were founded across the nation. There are over 325 Public Art Programs throughout the country.How many objects are in the Tampa Public Art Collection?There are over 100 objects in the Public Art collection. This includes exterior and interior artwork, commissions, purchases, and gifts.Who are the Public Artists? How is art commissioned?Artists, both local and from around the country, create Public Art in the City of Tampa. For each project, a call to artists is announced. The artist for any particular project is selected from a pool of qualified applicants by a group of individuals who are involved with that particular project site. The Public Art Committee, a citizen based committee appointed by the Mayor, oversees program planning and project selection. Artists are commissioned by various methods pending budget size and construction schedule.What type of artwork is eligible?It is the policy of the Tampa Public Art Program that professional visual artist’s design all artworks commissioned or acquired under the Program. Such artworks may include, but are not limited to: 2-dimensional (including painting, photography, prints, collage, murals, drawings, pastels, etc.), 3-dimensional (including free standing sculpture, earthworks, fiberworks, neon, glass, mosaics, kinetic, etc.). Also eligible are other medias such as video, sound; and functional fixtures or furnishings (gates, signage, floors, lighting, etc.) if created by artists as unique elements or limited editions.How is the Tampa Public Art Program funded?The Public Art program is funded by ordinance that requires 1% of the vertical construction costs of new municipal building projects to be set aside for Public Art. Dollars generated by this ordinance are used for the commissioning, acquisition, installation, maintenance, administration, and insurance of art works, as well as for publicity and education about the City of Tampa’s art collection.How did Bayshore Boulevard become a popular site for Tampa’s Public Art?In 1998, the city relocated three public art pieces to the 7.5-mile stretch of Bayshore Boulevard from the downtown area at the request of Mayor Dick Greco, who thought art on Bayshore would enhance the area. Thousands of residents and visitors have experienced, and responded positively to this project. Currently there are five pieces of public art on Bayshore: Lorraine Genovar's "Fish on Bayshore", Mary Ann Unger's "Wave", Michele Oka Doner's "Winged Figure", Geoffrey Naylor's "Family of Man", and Bud Oleson's "Equinimity".What are some other well-known Public Art works that are in the City of Tampa?Parking at the Courthouse is a 145-ft long mosaic tile mural that captures Tampa’s history through a very contemporary process, and is located on the Police Parking Garage on Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa. Some local businesses also enhance public space with Public Art. Locals regard George Sugarman’s yellow, black and white painted sculpture, positioned prominently in Tampa’s downtown (Ashley/Kennedy) as "explosive," and solid crystal glass blocks frame the entrance doors to the downtown Residence Inn.By the numbers...how many people see Tampa’s Public Art collection?The fact that over 22,000 individuals see the art on the Bayshore, and over 18,000 people see Parking at the Courthouse daily; it can be easily said that hundred’s of thousands see and experience artworks in the City of Tampa’s Public Art collection yearly.Where can I learn more?See our listing of
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