To: CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
From: GARY MARGOLIS, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE UTILITY BOX ART WRAP PROGRAM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Between 2015 and 2023, the City of Redondo Beach and the Public Art Commission have "wrapped" 26 utility boxes with digitally printed original designs by, in most cases, professional artists. This item continues that process.
BACKGROUND
With the establishment of the Public Art Commission (2009) and adoption of the Public Art Ordinance (2014) providing a source of funding for public art, the City of Redondo Beach Public Art Commission launched the city's Utility Box Public Art Pilot Program in 2015. The original plan was to wrap up to 25 utility boxes located throughout the city. The goals of the program are to use public art to contribute to the vitality and attractiveness of the city's streetscapes and bring free and accessible art to unexpected places.
On May 27, 2015, the Public Art Commission approved a committee to explore locations and policies for a pilot program, and on March 22, 2017, the Public Art Commission formed a second committee to prepare a draft of the Utility Box Program Guidelines. At the July 26, 2017 Public Art Commission meeting, the commission approved the "Utility Box Program Pilot Program Application and Guidelines," (attached) and subsequently those guidelines were released publicly on the city's website. From among over 50 submissions, the Public Art Commission recommended the first five box locations and corresponding designs for city council approval on April 3, 2018 at a total cost of $5,000 with $350 for each box going to the artist and $650 going to a company that did the fabrication and installation. Those first five vinyl wraps and all the wraps since have included ultra-violet and anti-graffiti protective coatings. In the event of a damaged installation, a wrapped panel can easily be removed and restored with a new printing and in...
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