Public Art and Memorials UPPS No. 08.03.04

Issue No. 2
Effective Date: 10/09/2009
Review: September 1 E3Y

01. POLICY STATEMENTS

01.01 For construction projects estimated to cost more than $250,000, Government Code §444.029 permits the university to specify a percentage of construction costs (not to exceed one percent) for fine art projects at or near the site of the construction project.

01.02 The president will determine an amount to include for fine art projects when the first project budget is submitted to The Texas State University System Board of Regents for inclusion in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP).

01.03 Others may propose permanent or temporary public art displays and memorials for location in public view on campus.

01.04 The Texas State University System must approve erection of full-size statues or monuments.

01.05 This policy does not address student art installations which are covered by separate guidelines and coordinated by the Department of Art and Design. Nor does it address art installations in the galleries located in Alkek or the Joann Cole Mitte building.

02. DEFINITIONS

02.01 Public art: Various forms including sculpture, paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, murals, and mosaics, whether physically present or electronically rendered, located in a place accessible by the general public. It is the specific intent to define public art as including all forms of artwork whether decorative or functional, interior or exterior, freestanding or integral physical part of buildings that are intended as artistic elements and whether designed by students, faculty, or professional artists.

02.02 Memorial: A structure of artistic value that is erected to commemorate an event, person or group.

03. PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE (PAC) MEMBERSHIP

03.01 The following persons will comprise the PAC:

a. Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication (Chair)

b. Chair of the Department of Art and Design

c. Associate vice president for Facilities

d. Director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction or his or her designee (for art associated with capital projects only)

03.02 For art associated with construction or renovation of a facility:

a. Deans and department heads of the representative building user groups will select ad hoc members from the building user groups to occupy the new facility.

b. The committee will convene shortly after the building committee is formed and before the design development documents are completed to ensure adequate time to determine the suitability of the art location, subject and appearance.

03.03 For art not associated with construction of a facility:

a. The committee will include appropriate members of the university community as ad hoc members as determined by the president.

03.04 The PAC meets on an ad hoc basis as public art proposals require review, or to address other public art planning issues. The PAC will base its recommendations upon committee consensus.

03.05 The PAC does not presume any authority over works of art, photographs, etc. that faculty and staff place on view in their offices.

03.06 The PAC will send the committee’s meeting minutes to the University Archives to: document the work of the committee, to provide information about artists, donors, or historical origins needed for the catalog; and to notify the university archivist about changes or additions to public art and campus memorials.

04. PROCEDURES FOR DECISIONS REGARDING PUBLIC ART AND MEMORIALS

04.01 The PAC will advise the President’s Cabinet on the acquisition, placement, maintenance, removal, relocation, and rejection of public art and memorials on campus. Public art selection must address such issues as: artistic quality, appropriateness, site context, public sensibility, durability, maintainability, safety, and cost. The PAC will also work with the university attorney on drafting, finalizing and updating the contractual documents (donation or loan form, etc.) governing these actions.

04.02 If new construction or major renovation is involved:

a. The PAC will solicit recommendations from the project architect and campus stakeholders such as students, faculty, staff, and alumni as appropriate.

b. The university will give first consideration to Texas artists (artists with a pre-existing and noteworthy connection to the state of Texas).

c. As appropriate, the university may employ faculty members in the Department of Art and Design to help the committee to develop artistic themes or select specific pieces of artwork.

d. The PAC will submit its selected art to the President's Cabinet for review and recommendation of approval by the president.

04.03 For public art in locations other than those associated with new construction or major renovation:

a. The PAC may hold a public meeting to solicit input from the primary users of the space proposed to house the public art.

b. The PAC will make a recommendation to the President’s Cabinet for review and recommendation of approval by the president for each project.

04.04 In accordance with the university’s ongoing commitment to attracting and supporting a diverse community, the university will also give consideration to the representation of diversity when selecting public art and memorials.

04.05 Prior to approving the placement of memorials on campus in accordance with UPPS No. 08.03.03, “Campus Memorials,” the University Advancement Executive Council will consult with the PAC.

05. FUNDING

05.01 Those purchasing or making loan arrangements must secure and document funds prior to making any acquisition arrangements. If funding is contingent on philanthropic contributions, the appropriate official, as defined in UPPS No. 03.05.01, “Soliciting, Accepting, and Processing Gifts and Grants from Private Sources” must approve a formal fundraising plan prior to submitting the project.

06. MAINTENANCE

06.01 The university archivist will develop and update a catalog containing each piece of campus public art.

07. DEACCESSIONING

07.01 The PAC will identify and evaluate art for removal according to criteria below, create a memorandum stating the reasons for removal with an estimate of the associated costs and revenues. The president must approve removal or sale of all public art.

07.02 The university’s art collection will receive the proceeds from the sale of the public art.

07.03 Criteria for determining removal, giving additional consideration to the historical value of the art work:

a. It is determined the university is unable to care properly for the public art or there is a marked discrepancy between the cost of the conservation and the public art’s aesthetic, historical, or financial value.

b. It is determined that an object of markedly inferior quality, either intrinsically or relatively, in comparison with other public art.

c. It is determined that the object now lacks a demonstrable relevance to the university.

d. It is determined that an object of quality is of such relative value that sacrificing it would strengthen another area of the university.

e. The university cannot reasonably guarantee the condition or security of the public art.

08. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

08.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

Position Date

Dean, Fine Arts and Communications September 1 E3Y

Public Art Committee September 1 E3Y

University Archivist September 1 E3Y

09. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Dean of Fine Arts and Communications; senior reviewer of this UPPS

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

President