Public Art Service Study Recommendations
McGregor Consulting
June 6, 1998

Acknowledgements | Introduction | Recommendations | Services 1 | Services 2 | Budget and Funding | Action Plan | Conclusion | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2

<<< Recommendations   Services 2 >>>

Services
The survey demonstrated a strong interest in a wide array of services. Since there is a need for a wide range of types of information, we focused on proposing mechanisms for delivering this information. We have put a priority on the dissemination of information through a regular electronic bulletin and a well conceived web site to disseminate information quickly. Reports, case studies, and other more substantive information should be phased. There was considerable interest in a hot-line or place to answer people's specific questions. This service might start out as a "Dear Public Art Expert" column in the bulletin or on the web site. In these recommendations we have balanced the needs and desires with the complexity of the delivery of some of these services. For instance, there is considerable interest in conferences and meetings, since organizing conferences is costly and requires a significant staff, we have put forward several ideas for collaborating with others to facilitate meetings. We recognize that some desired services are already offered by others and encourage this group to link the public and its members to valuable information and services that already exists.
 
Service Plan
 
Year 1

• Bulletin—6 times a year
• Web site—Basic Site
• Simple Reports
• key issues of great interest
• disseminate existing studies
• Conferences
• spearhead planning of the public art component of the host's conference, or other meetings 

Year 2 

• Bulletin—10 times a year  
• Guest Editorial Program
• Initiate round table discussions with summary report in special interest areas
• Hot-Line
• Encourage Local/Regional Symposia

Year 3

• Commission special public art project documentation
• Commissioned studies
• Mentoring Program
• Initiate relationships with other organizations to guide the public art component of their meetings

Newsletter
Regular communication in the most expedient, cost effective method is essential. Ideally appearing monthly, modeled on the ArtTable format, sent via e-mail, fax or post favoring low-design/production in favor of getting out timely information to members.
 
Contents, listed in priority based on survey

• profiles of significant new projects
• world watch column on international approaches to public art and public space
• funding opportunities
• nationwide lecture listings on public art and related issues
• notices on government rulings, legal issues, etc.
• updates on new materials and conservation issues
• selective job postings
• selective opportunity/competition postings

Web Site
The survey demonstrated that 75% of the respondents use the World Wide Web, however very few regularly access it for public art information. Clearly this organization can step in and immediately fill a void by presenting a well edited and organized site that provides accurate information and links to information provided by others such as opportunities and innovative projects. In particular there are several sites such as Art Calendar, Sculpture and The Art Deadlines List (www.xensei.com/adl) that already provide comprehensive listing information, this groups should not duplicate this time-consuming service.
 
Regular updating is key to the appeal of the site and regular re-visits. Strong links must be established between the web site, the bulletin, information packages, and other services. For instance, the bulletin can remind members to visit the web site to see images and hot topics that are updated more frequently than the bulletin distribution. A members only section modeled on NASAA's site could be very useful for communication between members and committee work. Sorting out the types of information on the web set and in the bulletin will be important to provide information to the general public visiting the site, and to encourage visitors to the site to become members.
 
There are several potential website hosts to consider. Based on preliminary discussion during our research stage, we recommend the following possibilities:

• The Arts & Web Culturenet Project: H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University
• the host organization
• a public art program with a well developed site
• UCLA public art administration program site

Given the substantive information to deliver, the web site can be conceived as a on-line magazine. We recommend phasing special initiatives to expand the critical potential in future years. Two ideas are proposed below, a Guest Editorial Program and Commissioned Web Projects. A nominating process can be developed to select relevant and influential participants for these programs.

1. The Guest Editorial Program can be initiated to invite a critic, curator, artist, or other visionary professional to be the quarterly critic or commentator. The results of this three month effort can be produced as a separate monograph. Some of the areas to involve this guest are as follows:
• select project of the month to feature on the opening page
• write editorial column
• produce interview or dialogue
• reviews books, sites, articles, projects that have been produced recently
2. Taking advantage of the of the web to reveal the layered aspect of public art production should be encouraged through Commissioned Web Projects. Initially the web site can focus attention on creative sites developed by others to document public art, to advocate for public art, and to educate about public art. Next the organization should commission artists and web designers to work together to develop web sites about particularly innovative public art projects.

Web Site Feature Phasing

Year 1

1. Basic Features:
• about the organization
• membership information
• hot topics
• links to member organizations
• links to exceptional projects
• links to opportunity listings
• features on new approaches to planning and programming
2. members only:
• on-line bulletin board or discussion group
• summary of critical information from bulletin
• results of special studies

Year 2

1. Guest Editorial Program: invite critic, curator, artist, or other professional as quarterly contributor
2. Resource, book and publication shop -needs secure ordering capability

Year 3

1. Commissioned Web Projects, public and web artists work together to develop web sites to document public projects, or engage issues of particular concern.

<<< Recommendations   Services 2 >>>