Members Sought for Cambridge Public Art Commission

Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents interested in serving on the Cambridge Public Art Commission (PAC). Public Art Commission members are volunteers appointed by the City Manager to work with Cambridge Arts Council staff in accomplishing the goals of the Cambridge Public Art Program. The Public Art Commission is composed of seven members who serve three-year terms, renewable once. The PAC seeks to represent the socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of the city, as well as various art and design disciplines (such as artists, architects, landscape architects, art educators, urban planners, art historians, conservators, curators, and art administrators). The PAC meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 6-8 p.m., at the City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd Floor, in the Cambridge Arts Council Conference Room.

The role of the Commission is to guide the implementation of the Public Art Ordinance and the Art Gifts and Donation Policy, and to advise on the overall direction of the Public Art Program. The Commission brings its collective expertise to bear on discussions regarding the various program areas of the Cambridge Public Art Program, such as acquisition and deaccession, project planning, maintenance, conservation, educational programming, and the exhibitions in Gallery 344. The Commission reviews every percent-for-art project from artists’ proposals to final design. PAC approval is required before a project can go into fabrication.

The responsibilities of the Public Art Commission include:

• Advising on the artist selection process and community engagement process for major projects;
• Recommending qualified jurors to select artists (the Commission does not select artists);
• Reviewing public art proposals;
• Recommending potential sources for additional funding;
• Advising on outreach and education;
• Providing connection to the wider community and recommendations on community interests, resources, contacts, and neighborhood or city-wide issues;
• Contributing a broad perspective and interest in the city’s goals and values;
• Attendance at monthly meetings.

Members are encouraged to participate in Public Art activities and Gallery 344 events, such as public art openings, artist talks, community presentations, gallery receptions, public art tours, and other related happenings. Additionally, members have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day work of the staff, Arts Council partners, and other departments and to offer advice and viewpoints that reflect the Commission’s purpose and role of arts advocacy within city government.

For more information about public art in Cambridge, visit www.cambridgema.gov/publicart.

Applications to serve on this commission can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at CambridgeMA.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience should be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave. The application deadline is Friday, October, 23, 2020.