Consultant hired to expand art offerings

By NANCY LAVIN

nlavin@newspost.com

From the bridges that traverse Carroll Creek to the Sky Stage amphitheater, Frederick boasts a strong public art presence.

But how to increase that presence with additional art projects — and how to pay for them — has proved challenging, according to Louise Kennelly, executive director of the Frederick Arts Council.

“We have a tradition of public art, but we don’t have a source of funding for creating or maintaining it,” Kennelly said Tuesday.

Faced with this hurdle, the council, in partnership with the Ausherman Family Foundation, has hired a public arts consultant to help guide the future of public art in Frederick, according to a statement.

Todd Bressi, a public art consultant and urban designer with national acclaim, will lend his expertise to Frederick to develop a public arts “master plan,” the release stated. The 10-month process will include meetings with community stakeholders and local residents coupled with research and review of current policies and guidelines and comparisons withbestpracticesinothercommunities.

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(Continued from B1) “We are going to look outside of the usual arts club for input,” Kennelly said, naming grocery stores and community parks as the types of settings for “pop-up” events where residents can weigh in. “We want to hear from all voices.”

The work will culminate with a report that gives specific recommendations on how to select proposals for future public art installations, find funding sources for the projects and decide where and how such projects should be installed, Kennelly said.

“It’s going to be an executive plan, not just a document that sits on a shelf,” Kennelly said.

The vision for this plan, and getting the expertise of a consultant, began almost a year ago, Kennelly said. Representatives from the arts council and the Ausherman Family Foundation, as well as other community groups, chose Bressi from the pool of top candidates, Kennelly said.

The selection process was not public, but included feedback from interested community leaders, including artists, elected officials, government employees, environmentalists and service agencies.

Kennelly highlighted Bressi’s credentials and experience as reasons why he was chosen.

Bressi manages a Pennsylvania- based public art and urban design consulting business and also serves as Mural Arts Philadelphia’s interim artistic planning coordinator and director of muraLAB, according to his website. He has helped create public art plans in communities nationwide, including Montgomery County; Alexandria, Virginia; and Athens, Georgia.

Alan Feinberg, a city resident and urban planner who has also taken an active role in pushing for development of east Frederick, named the Philadelphia murals as a standout example of meaningful public art.

“It leaves a lasting impression,” he said Wednesday. “It really impacts your impression of the entire city.”

As cities nationwide take a more active role in “place making,” Frederick cannot fall behind. A public art plan is just one component of such initiatives, but an important one, according to Feinberg.

“If we don’t do this, we miss huge opportunities,” he said.

The Ausherman Family Foundation, which provides funding to local charities and community projects, will pay a portion of the cost of Bressi’s work. The arts council will fund the remaining cost from money to be included in its fiscal 2018 budget, according to Kennelly.

A total cost for Bressi’s work plus expenses was not available. Kennelly named $50,000 to $60,000 as the typical fee for this type of work.

Follow Nancy Lavin on Twitter: @NancyKLavin.

The Frederick Arts Council, in partnership with the Ausherman Family Foundation, has hired a public arts consultant to help guide the future of public art in Frederick. One of the downtown arts venues is the recently completed Sky Stage amphitheater on South Carroll Street. A public yoga class was using the space Thursday evening.

Staff photo by Bill Green