Public Art Committee

Purpose

Art in the public spaces of UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) should serve to educate and enrich the lives of students, faculty, staff, the local community and visitors in support of the academic mission. The goal is to enhance the environment through art. This document outlines a process for procuring and managing public art at UCSB. In particular, it describes how proposals to install artworks in exterior and interior public spaces on campus will be considered. This policy applies to all proposals seeking to place art in public spaces on property belonging to the University.

The committee is responsible for the process of evaluating and reviewing the selection, acquisition, installation, and management of public artwork at UCSB. This policy includes both outdoor art and indoor art that is displayed in public spaces. It pertains to the grounds of the University, and any building occupied by the University, including leased property.

Public art includes artworks, sculptures, and site works which depart from the campus standard amenities of structures, street lamps, signage, trash receptacles, bicycle racks, benches and outdoor furniture on the campus grounds and inside its buildings. Indoor artwork, as defined by this policy, applies those portions of the building that are considered public spaces, such as lobbies, lecture halls, reception areas or theaters, and sports stadiums and arena. This policy includes purchased, gifted, and/or loaned works of art, murals, textiles, and the like.

The Public Art Committee will be appointed by the Executive Vice Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. Voting members include:

• a representative designated by the Office of the Chancellor;
• a representative designated by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor;
• a representative designated by the Design Review Committee (if DRC is not represented through any other committee member);
• 4 faculty members, appointed in consultation with the Academic Senate, including one faculty member of the Department of Art, one faculty member of the Department of the History of Art and Architecture, and two faculty members from non-arts departments;
• a representative appointed from the Art, Design & Architecture Museum;
• 2 student representatives, including one undergraduate student and one graduate student, appointed in consultation with the Associated Students and the Graduate Student Association;
• a representative appointed from the Office of Public Affairs & Communications;
• a representative appointed from the Office of Development;
• representatives of Facilities Management, Design & Construction Services and Campus Planning & Design will be non-voting staff support to the Committee.

The committee does not hold regular meetings; rather, it is convened when there are proposals to consider on an as-needed basis. The EVC selects the Chair of the Committee. The EVC’s Office will convene and staff the meetings.

Committee Responsibilities:

• Evaluate all proposals for the permanent installation of art works in exterior and interior public campus spaces, taking into consideration the quality of the art work, the appropriateness of the site, and any related issues.
• Consult with internal or external experts in the field when considering acquisition of new public art, as needed.
• Consult with relevant campus stakeholders, and include those discussions in the recommendation to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services.
• Make recommendations to the Executive Vice Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services.
• Consider developing a comprehensive plan for acquiring and placing public art, taking into consideration the public art acquisition plans as have been successfully developed and implemented at other higher education institutions.

The committee is not responsible for:

• The review or approval of installations in existing exhibition spaces specifically designed for that purpose and assigned departmental spaces, such as the galleries of the Art, Design & Architecture Museum or Kohn Hall, Kavali Institute for Theoretical Physics, Mosher Alumni House, Library, Munger KITP Residence Hall, Library (internal) and Intercollegiate Athletics. Such installations are the responsibility of staff of the respective units.
• The evaluation of plans for the design or installation of memorials, buildings, or other University facilities.
• Student works under the direction of a faculty advisor installed on a temporary basis (less than four weeks).

Public Art Installations

Individuals or groups proposing an art installation are expected to provide all of the information required for the installations detail. There is no established timeline for review of proposals for permanent installations. The review process is as follows:

• Review by the Public Art Committee (PAC)
• PAC requests review by relevant stakeholders
• PAC makes recommendations to the EVC and VC Administrative Services, who will consult with other senior officers, as appropriate.

Submission Process

Proposals for public art to be submitted to the committee for review shall include:

• the name of the campus sponsor;
• date of proposal submission;
• contact information for the individuals or agencies submitting the proposal;
• name of the artist and biographical information;
• narrative of work and conceptual installation site to illustrate the artistic intent;
• a written description of the artwork, including: the date of the artwork, the medium, dimensions, weight, volume and mounting method, and any utility connections required for installation;
• multiple views of the artwork, showing all important structural features of the work including pedestal or landscaping recommendations, as appropriate;
• graphic illustration(s) such as site plans and elevations of the proposed location including the adjacent context;
• photographs of the artwork and a photo-montages of the installation in situ;
• documentation regarding its current and future ownership status;
• the cost of its purchase (if it is not a gift) or estimated valuation of the work;
• estimated cost of transportation, installation, maintenance, and insurance;
• a funding source for the artwork and installation;
• a maintenance program, including budget and funding source;
• the target dates for installation and duration, if temporary;
• any and all other useful information.

Proposals should be submitted to:
Shari Hammond
Principal Planner
UCSB Office of Campus Planning & Design
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2032
(805) 893-3796
shari.hammond@ucsb.edu

Other considerations for discussion and inclusion:

• Artists or proponents who would like to display or install performance, installation, or sound art on public spaces on the UCSB campus must submit their plans to the Committee.
• The University fully supports the right to artistic expression and recognizes the merits of performance and installation art; however, artworks must comply with University policies in order to provide a safe and healthy environment. Artists and other participants in performance, installation, and sound art must comply with all University policies regarding drugs, alcohol, weapons, explosives, and other hazardous materials.
• Specifically prohibited on UCSB property are:
  • setting off fireworks, explosives, or any similar device
  • displaying or using a knife, gun, or other weapon
  • possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol
  • exposing others to blood, urine, feces, chemicals, or other hazardous materials
  • any activity that has the potential to cause injury to the artist, any other participants or performers, audience members, or others.
• Definition of a Work of Art includes: sculpture, in situ creations, paintings, murals, decorative benches, lamps, or other such “street furniture”, video installations, and other new media, both permanent and temporary. For the purposes of this committee, it does not include short-term (less than four weeks) student installations made under the supervision of a faculty member, or short-term film and video projections installed for announcements or curricular purposes, or directional or informational signage or banners.
• Students interested in presenting performance, installation, or sound art on the UCSB campus outside of designated classrooms or not part of an official departmental event must submit a proposal to the Committee, outlining the details and the timetable for the artwork. The proposal should have a faculty sponsor. The committee will review the proposals, and the student will receive notification of the committee's decision. Any installed art deemed a public health or safety hazard and installations that have not received authorization will be removed immediately.
• If the total project will cost more than $35,000, then it will need to go through the Office of Budget & Planning capital projects process.
• If commissioning an artist for work on campus, a contract between the artist and the University will need to be developed through the Office of Budget and Planning.
• Permanent art installations and major temporary installations may have a Design & Construction Services project manager assigned to guide the project through the process. Recharge rates will apply.
• A Project Initiation Form (PIF) may need to be submitted online to start the project.
• Depending upon the scale and complexity of the installation, a project may go through multiple phases of project development. Typically, the project team (artist, sponsor, project manager and consultants) will develop a preliminary set of plans and documents for review by university stakeholders.
• The project may be subject to review and approval by the Campus Building Official and Fire Marshal.
• The artist or the donor or the campus sponsor will be required to provide appropriate documents indemnifying the campus in the event of damage to the art work. In addition, depending on the type and location of the artwork, the sponsor and /or artist may be required to provide bonding and insurance for the piece and its installation.
• The project team will incorporate the Public Art Committee’s advice into the development of final construction documents.
• All artwork offered as a gift to the University must be formally approved by the University Development Office in compliance with campus policy.

Review Process

1. Proponent submits all necessary material.
2. Item is scheduled for PAC review.
3. The PAC may invite the proponent to make a presentation to the committee and answer questions.  The PAC should let the proponent know the next steps: PAC outreach to relevant stakeholders; recommendation forwarded to the EVC and VCAS, who also will conduct appropriate consultation where needed.
4. The PAC then goes into executive session to discuss the artwork proposal and decides if the committee is ready to move forward to EVC with a recommendation.  Any PAC members associated with a proposed project must recuse themselves from the executive session and subsequent vote.  PAC members also determine who the “relevant stakeholders” are that need to be consulted regarding the particular artwork to supplement, and if necessary, consider any outreach already conducted by the proponent. This always includes the Campus Building Official, Fire Marshal, the UCPD, and Risk Management.  
5. PAC staff sends a memo to the identified relevant stakeholders with a description of the proposed  artwork.  The PAC asks the relevant stakeholders if they have any comments on the proposed artwork. A timeline is given for responses (usually 2 weeks).  Respondents do not meet with the PAC; they must submit comments in writing.
6. Once the PAC reviews the comments and responses to any concerns, it then formally makes a recommendation and PAC staff submits the project materials to the EVC and VCAS. The report includes the description of the project, the staff report, any substantial comments from PAC members and a description of public outreach efforts and responses. The material sent to the EVC and VCAS should be copied to the Chair of the PAC, AVC of DFSS, the Assistant Chancellor of Budget & Planning, the Director of Campus Planning & Design, and the EVC representative to the PAC.
7. The EVC and VCAS consult where appropriate and concur with the recommendation or send the proposal back to the PAC for further review.  They have the authority to make a final decision. 

(1/21/22)