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Public Art Policy

Category
  • General
Responsible Unit Advancement and Communications
Responsible Cabinet Member VP for Advancement and Communications
Adoption Date 2024-12-12
Last Revision Date
Last Review Date

Policy Statement

The Public Art Committee (PAC) of SUNY Brockport has been charged with providing a comprehensive framework to effectively manage the collection and display of art in public space inside of buildings and on the campus grounds.

Purpose/Scope

SUNY Brockport recognizes that art enhances the quality of life and helps foster an environment that encourages and nurtures creative expression, and it therefore supports the display of artwork on campus to advance the sense of community, engagement, diversity, and connection among members of the University community. The University is particularly pleased to have the opportunity to consider works by successful students, prominent alumni, faculty, and other artists associated with our region to celebrate their contributions to the world of art. Acquired public art should expand the educational mission of SUNY Brockport by providing interesting and challenging work of high quality, accompanied by an interpretive program to make the works accessible to non-specialists.

The PAC is required to follow the policy and procedures outlined herein when proposing art purchases, locations, and/or installing artwork on campus.

The PAC shall represent the constituencies of faculty, staff, and students.

Successful artwork installation requires adherence to University health and life safety rules and practices; grounds and maintenance standards; guidelines regarding appropriate locations and materials; and procedures for safe installation.

Applicability

This policy applies to all faculty, staff, and students, regarding all artwork displayed on campus, with limited exception and as noted herein, and applies to proposals from community members and others outside of the University wishing to loan or donate works to the campus.

Definitions

Designated Art Venues — Designated art venues are identified as the following spaces in the Tower Fine Arts Building: the Tower Fine Arts Gallery, the Rainbow Gallery (a student art gallery that also functions as a student lounge on the second floor), and the display cases and bulletin boards on the second floor (used for educational purposes).

Public Art Committee (PAC) — The PAC oversees the selection and placement of public art on the SUNY Brockport campus and will make recommendations to President’s Cabinet (except for artwork and displays of student and professional artwork in the Tower Gallery). The PAC’s Proposal and Approval Process are found in Appendix A, while the PAC’s Purpose, Membership, and Responsibilities are found in Appendix B.

Policy Procedures

GUIDELINES FOR ART INSTALLATION

    1. The following guidelines regarding the installation of artwork shall apply:
      1. Lighting in stairwells, corridors, and walkways must not be altered, except to be improved.
      2. Artwork cannot be suspended from or impair the proper operation of fire protection sprinkler heads or pipes, ceiling systems, light fixtures, cameras, or signage.
      3. Access to the following must not be physically or visually obstructed in any way:
        1. Security cameras
        2. Wi-Fi access points
        3. Electronic notice boards (digital signage displays)
        4. Fire hose cabinets, extinguishers, pull stations, smoke/ heat detectors, and signal devices
        5. Defibrillators
        6. Utilities/Caretaking access hatches and doors
        7. Pathways, stairwells, corridors, and handrails
        8. Wayfinding, directional, and exit signage
      4. The following materials cannot be used in artwork under any circumstances:
        1. Live ammunition or firearms
        2. Flammable liquids
        3. Explosives
        4. Hazardous waste of any kind
      5. Artwork cannot be permanently affixed to a building or site.

STEWARDSHIP OF ARTWORK

    1. The University assumes responsibility for the insurance, care, maintenance, and security of its artwork collection, which resides with the Office of Campus Services, in consultation with the Collections Manager. Specifically, the “care, maintenance, and security” of artwork requires expertise and falls under the duties and responsibilities of the Collections Manager.

PUBLIC ART LOCATIONS

    1. The PAC will be responsible for identifying appropriate locations for artwork and for responding to requests for artwork in public spaces on campus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. PAC
  2.  
      1. The PAC, and/or those designated by the President, have the responsibility to review artwork, artist’s requests, and proposals for artwork, and make recommendations to President’s Cabinet on its suitability for public display on campus. This can include content, adherence to health and safety standards and the assessment of any risk issues, the needs of others who use that space, and other factors. For example, a project would be evaluated for mature content in areas on campus open to the general public.
      2. When student artwork is purchased with University funds (President’s office, Deans’ offices, etc.), that artwork then becomes part of the University’s permanent art collection and thus comes under the jurisdiction of the Public Art Policy. No state funds will be used for the purchase of artworks without the prior approval of President’s Cabinet. The PAC will facilitate the identification of appropriate campus locations for those artworks.
      3. The Collections Manager is responsible for the maintenance of a master list of artworks owned by SUNY Brockport, including the following:
        1. Date of purchase
        2. Date of creation of artwork
        3. Location
        4. Initial cost
        5. Name of artist
      4. Any request for art installation outside of designated art venues (which are all within the Tower Fine Arts Building) must be reviewed by the PAC, along with any and all relevant documentation.

   B. Artist Requests

      1. Requests for artwork installations that are research-based require submission of complete documentation by the artist confirming the research protocol, inclusive of project scope and limitations. Policies for artwork displays in Tower Fine Arts’ galleries are overseen by the Department of Art.
      2. Loaned works of art:
        1. It is the responsibility of the artist to observe the approved timelines as granted by the PAC for the temporary public display of an artwork project.
        2. The University will insure loaned works of art with a temporary policy for the duration of the artwork’s presence on campus.

   C. Program Oversight

      1. President’s Cabinet has final authority on this policy and Public Art Requests.

APPENDIX A: PAC Proposal and Approval Process

    1. Artists seeking to propose artwork for purchase by SUNY Brockport are to consult this policy for guidelines as to content and materials used.

    2. The PAC will assess the proposed artwork application for the following:

      1. Potential hazards, for example, sharp protruding edges or planes that may pose a threat in the normal course of movement.
      2. Ease of egress. 3D artwork should be barrier-free and not create an obstacle at any time for those using the space including high traffic volume times or for those who are visually or physically impaired.
      3. Artistic merit and appropriateness. PAC members will indicate their approval or disapproval of proposals for an artwork purchase, based on artistic merit and appropriateness.

        Once artwork selections have been made for purchase, the PAC shall notify the Vice President for Advancement and Communications (or other designated SUNY Brockport official) for action, including notification to the artist of the status of their application.

APPENDIX B: PAC Terms of Reference

    1. Purpose

      1. The PAC is responsible for reviewing requests for public artwork placement and purchase on the SUNY Brockport campus, in accordance with the Public Art Policy.

    2. Membership
       
      1. The PAC shall ideally be chaired by the Collections Manager and will be composed of representatives from the following constituencies:
        1. Brockport University Senate representative*
        2. Department of Art faculty representative*
        3. Office of Campus Services representative*
        4. Student representative (undergraduate and graduate)*
        5. Faculty representative (representing the academic colleges/schools)
        6. Staff representative (academic and non-academic)
        7. Local community representative
        8. Emeriti representative
        9. Alumni representative
          *At a minimum, the PAC should include these representatives.
          While it is not always possible or practical to have representation from all of these groups, the PAC Chair will reach out annually (or semesterly, if necessary) to the Deans of the colleges/schools, Brockport Student Government (BSG), and community organizations and/or individuals for nominations for representation. The PAC Chair may also invite participation through announcements in the Daily Eagle, the emeriti newsletter, etc.
      2. The list of PAC Members will be sent to the President at the start of the academic year for ratification, approval, and publication.
      3. Other individuals may be temporarily added to the PAC as deemed necessary, as a resource, and will attend those meetings as invited by the Chair. Sub-committees may be formed to address the placement of artwork in specific locations, which would include additional representation by the areas most directly impacted.

C. Responsibilities of the PAC

      1. Oversees the selection and placement of publicly displayed artworks on the SUNY Brockport campus.
      2. Determines art placement guidelines.
      3. Reviews offers of donated artworks to the University for compliance with the Public Art Policy.

Links to Related Procedures and Information

Public Art Committee

Contact Information

Collections Manager

Public Art Committee Chairperson

History (in descending order)

Item

Date

Explanation

Next Review Date

2029-12-12

Five-year review

Adoption Date

2024-12-12

Policy Adopted

Draft Review Date

2024-11-12

Draft Policy under 30-day Campus Review

Approval

This policy was approved by President’s Cabinet on 2024-12-12