LINDSEY DAY HOFFMAN
Staff Writer
The Malibu City Council will decide the fate of the city’s new “Art in Public Places” proposal, and council member Pamela Conley-Ulich says the decision is overdue.
“We are ready for the arts,” she said. “Malibu has met the basic needs for living, we can now make this community phenomenal.”
The proposal, which would mandate all commercial developers to include a form of art in their projects in Malibu, is similar to ones in several other communities in Southern California, including Laguna Beach.
“Most developers want to do it,” said Sian Poeschl, cultural arts manager for Laguna Beach. “They are enthusiasts about the idea and believe art enhances their buildings.”
Conley-Ulich’s plan requires that any project in Malibu costing $1 million or more must make a contribution of art worth 1 percent of the overall construction price. Developers may install public artwork on private property, provide a work of public art to the City of Malibu for exhibit in the community, or pay the 1 percent fee to the Arts and Culture Fund that will use this funding toward future art projects.
Some are concerned the plan’s proposed requirements are too demanding of future construction. The art condition applies to construction in “public places,” which by definition includes both public and private property.
There is ongoing debate regarding whether the proposal is too much to ask of developers. “It is a strange concept to make them (developers) spend money for public arts,” said Jeff Jennings, Malibu Mayor Pro Tem. “The impulse to include art comes from within a person, not from a city requirement.”
Specific requirements for the art to be included will be determined by a Public Arts and Culture Commission, which will be created if the proposal passes. The suggested plan said art must have an intrinsic quality and lasting value beyond any decorative characteristics. Any work of a project’s architect, landscaping, engineering or designing firms are not eligible to fulfill this requirement.
Only the work of professional artists who make their living selling art will be considered for display.
“Malibu has so many artists (and) nobody supports them,” said Conley-Ulich.
In an effort to help local artists gain public exposure, various types of work including sculptures, photographs, paintings, monuments as well as other forms of art will be introduced to the local community.
The plan allows only professional artists to prevent business advertising. The issue arose because a furniture store in Agoura Hills attempted to put a rocking chair in front of the store as “art,” causing meaning to question whether it was displayed for artistic purposes.
Conley-Ulich said the passing of the plan is essential to the evolution of Malibu’s development as a city.
“I’m pushing for this because I want to make home the best it can be,” she said.
Land Use Policy 2.1.1 states that the city of Malibu “shall promote an aesthetically pleasing and visually stimulating environment whose architecture, common, and open spaces inspire and uplift the human spirit.”
The proposed idea strives to do just that, backers say.
“I think (the proposal) would be beneficial to the community as it would bring art to Malibu that we and future generations can appreciate,” said Jenny Bickford, Malibu resident.
After careful review, the City Council determined that the “Art in Public Places” proposal will undergo the normal process of proposed projects. The proposal is in line to be reviewed by subcommittees regarding its zoning and regulations. It will then be submitted to a planning board and will return to City Council for another review.
The proposal is expected to reach the City Council within the next year.
04-05-2007