What is Public Art?

Public Art fits a much broader definition than art in a museum. In simple terms, public art is art work in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is acquired through public or private funding. Public art can take the form of a sculpture, mural, paving pattern, lighting, seating, building facade, kiosk, gate, fountain, play equipment, engraving, carving, fresco, mobile, collage, mosaic, bas-relief, tapestry, photograph, drawing, or earthwork.

Whatever its form, public art attracts attention. By its presence alone public art can heighten our awareness, question our assumptions, transform our landscape, or express community values, and for these reasons it can have the power, over time to transform the image of the Village. Public art helps define an entire community’s identity and reveal the unique character of a specific neighborhood.

Click here for representative examples of Art in Public Places.

Why Public Art?

The impact of public art on a community is priceless and immeasurable and once experienced, it only appreciates. Public art has the power to energize our public spaces, arouse our thinking, and transform the places where we live, work, and play into more welcoming and beautiful environments that invite interaction. Public art can make strangers talk, children ask questions, and calm a hurried life. It enhances the quality of life by encouraging a heightened sense of place and by introducing people to works of art.

The Many Benefits of Public Art

Beyond its enriching personal benefits, public art is a true symbol of the Village of Palmetto Bay’s maturity. It increases a community’s assets and expresses a community’s positive sense of identity and values. It helps green space’s thrive, enhances roadsides, pedestrian corridors, and community gateways; it demonstrates unquestionable civic and corporate pride in citizenship and affirms an educational environment. A village with public art is a village that thinks and feels.

The Creation of Art in Public Places

On March 5, 2007 the Village Council unanimously adopted the Art in Public Places Program via ordinance No. 07-05 the first of its kind in Miami Dade County.

Who Decides What is Public Art?

Because art can be subjective the Village Council will create an Art in Public Places Advisory Board to be composed of five members with diverse backgrounds in Architecture, Fine Arts, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Product Design, History of Art or Architecture and Interior Design. Each member must hold a least a bachelor’s degree in said field and be appointed by the Village Council.

Ultimately, the Board will review and propose art works to be acquired under the Village’s Art in Public Places Program. The Board will issue a recommendation to the Village Council for all art work program acquisitions in accordance with the ordinance.

Who Pays Into the Art in Public Places Program?

Any individual who is requesting a building permit for the construction or remodeling of a commercial property whose total improvement or construction value is over $250,000, excluding land acquisition, will pay a one time fee of 1% of said construction value into the trust fund.

or

Any individual who is requesting a building permit for the construction of two or more residential units valued over $250, 000 in aggregate or a single family estate home valued at $750,000 in aggregate, excluding land acquisition, will pay a one time fee of 1% of said construction value into the trust fund.

The applicant has two options of paying the Art in Public Places fee:

Option 1 Pay the 1% fee into the trust fund
Option 2 Provide art in lieu of the fee valued at 1.25% on-site, subject to the Art in Public Places Advisory Board approval

For additional information or to request a copy of the Art in Public Places ordinance, please contact the Department of Community Development at 305-259-1260.

Art in Pubic Places Advisory Board

The Art in Public Places program will be overseen by an advisory board charged with the responsibility of reviewing and proposing art work items to be acquired under the Art in Public Places Program. The board is to issue recommendations to the Village Council for all artwork program acquisitions.

The advisory board also oversees the public education, and curatorial aspects of the program. The Community Development Director, or his/her designee serves as the liaison to the Board, and prepares a budget for staff and other expenditures necessary to operate the program and deliver the annual report to the Village Council.

Additionally, the Board screens submissions and recommends to the Village Council for final authorization for each acquisition not more than three (3) possible selections, which may be existing works of art or new commissions.

For additional information, please contact the Department of Community Development at 305-259-1260.