PLAN BRIEF

OVERVIEW

The 2019 Public Art Strategic Plan responds to the different perspectives we heard from Chattanoogans about what constitutes public art, its purpose, and the growing demand for public art to address specific community concerns. Chattanoogans strongly value and support public art, and they look to the City to provide equitable access and opportunity to experience it -- adding meaning, beauty, connection and dialogue to daily public life. informed by this input, the plan prioritizes placemaking and community empowerment by integrating art and artists into the way the City builds itself through capital construction and neighborhood projects. Also, acknowledging the tremendous role public art has played in the transformation of Chattanooga, the plan establishes a clear tie to the city’s economic development initiatives.

Building on the rich history of Chattanooga’s public/private partnerships, the plan allows the City to assume a more prominent role in driving the vision for Chattanooga’s public art -- taking the lead in its planning and funding, while forging a balanced partnership with the private sector by leveraging City capital and operating budgets.

Finally, the plan offers a ten-year action plan with specific recommendations for how Public Art Chattanooga can support multi-sector public art efforts while proactively taking the lead to integrate art into City-funded capital projects and neighborhood initiatives.

PLAN VISION

Public art helps define Chattanooga by enhancing the public realm, stimulating dialogue, and building community.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Chattanoogans believe that public art has the power to:

• • Provide equitable access to a diversity of artists and artistic experiences.

• • Celebrate our communities’ cultural assets, highlighting the unique character of our neighborhoods, honoring their histories, and preserving quality of place.

• • Elevate the role the artist and the creative process plays in connecting people and place.

• • Encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration in the public and private sectors to create vibrant public spaces.

• • Express Chattanooga’s identity through the built environment.

ACTION PLAN HIGHLIGHTS

PLACEMAKING

• Early artist engagement for site-integrated artworks in City infrastructure projects.
• Identify locations where community-based public art can be integrated into ongoing citywide urban design efforts.
• Recruit local artists to collaborate with residents and businesses to enhance neighborhood character in underserved communities.
• Budget Policy and Capital Improvement Project (CIP) guidelines that allocate a percentage of the City’s overall above-ground CIP budget for integrated public art.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

• Opportunities for local and regional artists (creative engagement, residencies, training and mentorships).
• Prioritize projects in neighborhoods that lack public art and in low income neighborhoods identified for streetscape improvements.
• Roster of local and regional artists who have an interest in and track record of, working with community groups.
• Artist-in-residencies with a goal of creating deep engagement within communities to identify locations and goals for public art projects in their neighborhoods.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Training tools and streamlined review procedures for private and non-profit organizations who initiate and manage art on both private and public property.
• Toolkit of resources for interested partners and developers reflecting best practices and industry standards on public art project implementation.
• Roster of local artists who can participate in Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund projects for façade improvements, street furniture, and other placemaking amenities.

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

• Equitable geographic distribution of artworks, increasing access to public art city-wide.
• Stable source of funding to staff Public Art Chattanooga, maintain the public art collection and commission new works.
• Continue strong partnerships between the local government, businesses, private developers, and foundations.
• Policies that adequately address the growth of the collection and its ongoing maintenance.