CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 1 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-6661 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Library Department
MEETING DATE: November 20, 2023
SUBJECT:
Art Exhibit Policy – Study Session
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the Draft Art Exhibit Policy and provide feedback and direction.
BACKGROUND:
The maintenance of a robust Art Exhibit Policy is essential for the City’s endeavor to make City facilities welcoming and stimulating spaces. The City’s art exhibits are spaces of municipal expression meant to enhance the aesthetic experience of visitors and staff. They are public forums of expression.
While, for nearly two decades, the City’s existing Art Exhibit Policy provided staff and volunteer community advisors with a general framework for granting gifted local artists the opportunity to display their work in well populated civic spaces, it was recently revealed to not provide clear direction on the selection of specific works of art for display by the City. Under the existing selection framework, the library art coordinator worked with the selection advisory committee to identify artists whose work demonstrated talent, diversity of perspective, and high aesthetic quality. The committee selected the artists who would display work at city facilities by thoughtfully evaluating a sampling of their work.
After the artists were notified that they had been chosen, the artists were allowed to independently choose a selection of their work and personally set up the display of their art. This meant that the committee, staff, and visitors could learn what works had been chosen only after they were put on display. This process recently resulted in the display of art pieces in City Hall that led to concerns on the part of staff and community members. The City Manager’s Office responded by pausing the City art program in order to further evaluate and appropriately amend the policy to prevent future episodes and provide clearer guidance on the art selection process.
The City Manager’s Office led an interdepartmental working group, as well as gathering advisement from the Library Board of Trustees, to evaluate best practices and guidelines in other municipalities towards the objective of amending the City’s Art Exhibit Policy to include a review and final approval of specific artworks being put forth for display on City premises by the City Librarian and the City Manager (or designated personnel).
In addition to providing staff with clear direction on the process of selecting art for displaying art in City art galleries, it also clarifies the purpose and provides parameters of displaying art in city exhibits. It is also meant to provide transparency for artists and community members who may be interested in understanding how the art galleries operate and are managed.
On October 23, 2023, the City Librarian presented a draft Art Exhibit Policy to the Library Board. The Library Board provided feedback and recommendations for City Council consideration. The revised Art Exhibit Policy is included as Attachment 1. Following this study session, staff will return to the Council during a subsequent regular meeting with a
CITY OF SAN MATEO
request to approve the Art Exhibit Policy, as directed by Council.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no budget impact associated with this study session.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This study session is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 - Draft Art Exhibit Policy
STAFF CONTACT
James Moore, City Librarian
[email protected]
(650) 522-7802