8.1. EDSR 06-17-2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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91 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan Appendix: Elk River Public Arts Various communities have employed different programs to develop public art, including: A rotating gallery program in which cities first provide a venue for artists to display their work, and then annually add one or two of the most popular pieces to the city’s permanent collection Arts dedication (similar to park dedication) from any new private development, redevelopment, or public capital or infrastructure investment Arts requirement in which any new private development, redevelopment, or public capital or infrastructure investment must incorporate some level of public art Public art competitions Support or subsidies for locations for artists to do their work Support for events (concerts, plays, art fairs) Artist in Residence programs Facilitating partnerships between artists and corporate patrons Pursuing grants Facilitating simple permitting for temporary or “pop-up” art opportunities Locations The locations identified are places where public art displays would likely be most engaged. In these settings, the art should respond to the context in which it is displayed. Public art, unlike a gallery piece sitting against a blank wall, must fit its setting. This is not to say that public art is not welcome in other locations in the city, nor that every artist’s interpretation of what fits a location would be the same, but an artist must be able to answer the question, “how does your art respond to the context and setting in which it will be displayed?” Downtown The historic downtown already shows and hosts numerous pieces of public art, from sculptures and murals, to performances and fountains. It is a pedestrian-focused area with public and private facilities. It is also the heart of the community, and an area commonly identified with Elk River. Public art projects in the downtown area could further enrich the experiences of visitors and locals alike. Opportunities for public art could include functional pedestrian amenities such as benches, lights, planters, and gates or railings. Additional public art could fit into buildings or in storefront windows or facades. Potential points of focus or themes for public art could include the river or the area’s history, or art could be created in response to the built form of the district. Art in this location will likely be oriented to the human scale. Community Gateways Community gateways create a visitor’s first impression of Elk River as they enter the city. These gateways thus serve as the city’s welcome, whether it is for a first time visitor or for residents returning home from their daily commutes. Public art at community gateways must consider the way in which people will interact with it. Someone entering Elk River from the north along Highway169 will likely be traveling at highway speed. Thus, the gateway must be legible from a greater distance and at high speeds. Viewers will not be able to consider the