Port of San Diego to Hold Public Art Planning Meeting

Wednesday, 24 February 2010

The Port of San Diego will be holding a public meeting on the planning and visioning of its Public Art Program. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Board Room of the Port of San Diego Administration building, 3165 Pacific Highway.

Over the past year, the Port of San Diego has been in the process of analyzing its Public Art Program in order to make it more effective and to craft a new vision for it.

A public art master planning consulting team was selected by the Port in fall 2009 to assist with the process. Todd Bressi and Meridith McKinley of Via Partnership, a St. Louis-based consulting group that works with public and private sector organizations to develop and implement public art strategies, have been conducting research to determine the program's new vision.

The consultants conducted round table discussions in the Port's five member cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego, with city representatives, Port tenants and stakeholders. They also held workshops and conducted interviews to ensure a well-rounded perspective from the stakeholders.

Bressi and McKinley will be presenting their recommended goals and creative directions for the Public Art program at the March 3 meeting. Their proposed plan outlines how the Public Art department will commission, exhibit and manage artworks, while keeping in alignment with the Port's mission and goals. The plan also includes a set of recommended policies and procedures that will clarify how public art decisions are made, as well as the roles and responsibilities of Port staff, tenants, the Public Art Committee and the Board of Port Commissioners as they relate to public art.

Following the consultants' presentation, the public will be given the opportunity to provide input.

The Public Art Master Plan will be reviewed by the Port's Public Art Committee at its March 17 meeting and presented to the Board of Port Commissioners at the April 6 Board meeting.

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