REPORT TO CULTURAL COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion of the Utility Box Art Program
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2012, the Santa Clara Cultural Commission began a pilot Utility Box Art Program (Program) to deter graffiti and add art to approved utility objects throughout the City. The program was put on hold in early 2018 to address program concerns. At a joint dinner meeting of the Cultural Commission and City Council on September 11, 2018, the Cultural Commission and City Council discussed the status of the Program. The Cultural Commission shared an interest in reinstating the Program upon review and revision by the City Attorney's Office.
At the December 3, 2018 Cultural Commission meeting, Deputy City Attorney Diana Fazely presented an update and recommendations on how to proceed with the Utility Box Art Program. The Commission approved a motion to "accept the City Attorney's Office recommendation and defer program guideline revisions to the Cultural Commission's Arts in the Public Spaces subcommittee". Subcommittee members met in January 2019 and drafted new program guidelines. After City Attorney review, a new application, guidelines and artist agreement for the Program were created.
On April 1, 2019, subcommittee members reviewed the Program application and presented the Cultural Commission with an update as part of the Commission's Work Plan agenda item. On April 15, the 2019 Utility Box Art Program application was released to the public and art community. By the May 13, 2019 due date, nineteen (19) applications were received and were eligible for Commission consideration.
At the June 4, 2019 meeting of the Commission five (5) artist applications were approved. At the time of this report, two artists have completed the artwork on the utility boxes, and three artists are in process and should be completed by the end of January 2020.
Five (5) traffic control signal boxes were approved by Public Work Department and Silicon Valley Power for use in the 2...
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