The 'Art in Civic Spaces' initiative began back in 2012 after a community art night identified a need to highlight local art.

Currently the program hosts art displays in Genesis Place, Burt Church Theatre, and meeting rooms at City Hall.

In June 2015, City Council requested staff to research the feasibility of rotating community artwork in Council Chambers.

Under the current partnership with the Airdrie Regional Arts Society (ARTS), art is displayed on a first come, first served basis.

The new proposal brought to City Council outlined recommendations for the Community Services Advisory Board (CSAB) to incorporate the 'Art in Civic Spaces' program as part of the Cultural Planning process. 

"We are doing a process of cultural planning this year with the community to do a master plan for the city," said Daniel Fortier, Community Developer for the City of Airdrie. "We thought it would be better to wait to put local artwork in until we had a real solid understanding of the vision and the cultural vision for the city, when we put the artwork in there it will be very intentional and very deliberate in how we do it."

Due to the change, a review will be required on the ‘Art in Civic Spaces’ program's scope and processes, while also identifying efficiencies for program delivery.

The Cultural Planning process will begin this year with an opportunity for community consultations.

"We're going to be starting the Cultural Planning this year, we anticipate that it will take about 9 to 12 months," added Fortier. "We're putting the RSP out shortly for a consultant to work with us to do that and then we're going to be starting that process right away, and as we do that, we will be including the community in some of those consultations."

The cost associated with bringing art into the chambers will include installation of hardware and purchasing appropriate display fixtures for three-dimensional works ranging from $3,500 to $8,000. As well, it will require a quarterly contract service to take down and put up new art work.

Each building that hosts art as 'non-commercial, non-traditional gallery space' will pay a royalty rate to the CARFAC of $425 every 3 months that goes to the artists who have art displayed. 

At last Mondays City Council meeting, Council voted unanimously in favour of the CSAB incorporating the 'Art in Civic Spaces' program.

Leah Crawford - airdrienews@goldenwestradio.com