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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParticipate - 2014 Desert Sculpture Symposium CITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 2014 DESERT SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM, AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 FROM THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES FUND FOR PURCHASE OF SCULPTURE, APPROPRIATE $5,000 FROM THE UNOBLIGATED GENERAL FUND RESERVES, AND GRANT PERMISSION TO UTILIZE CITY PROPERTY FOR THE DESERT SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM. SUBMITfED BY: Deborah L. Schwartz, Management Analyst DATE: December 12, 2013 CONTENTS: Desert Sculpture Symposium Proposal Recommendation By Minute Motion: 1) Approve the City's participation in the 2014 Desert Sculpture Symposium; 2) authorize expenditure in the amount of $25,000 from the Art in Public Places Fund for purchase of a sculpture, Account No. 436-4650-454-4001; 3) appropriate $5,000 from the Unobligated General Fund Reserves to Account No. 110-4416-414-3062 for incidental costs; 4) grant permission to utilize City property for the Desert Sculpture Symposium. Commission Recommendation At its regularly scheduled meeting of November 13, 2013, the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Commission recommended with a vote of 4-2 (Commissioners Hough and Miller voting no), to approve the expenditure of $25,000 for the Desert Sculpture Symposium in return for purchase of a sculpture. Executive Summary The City has been approached by the organizers of the Desert Sculpture Symposium (DSS) to donate and participate in its inaugural event in November 2014. The DSS would consist of eight to ten artists who would be invited to come to Palm Desert for approximately three weeks to sculpt in Carrera marble, which would be imported from Italy for the event. The artists would be carving the marble in an outdoor, public location where community members and visitors would be encouraged to watch and interact with them. Staff Report Desert Sculpture Symposium December 12, 2013 Page 2 of 3 The sculptors will also be available to give public talks on their artwork and carving processes. The AIPP Commission recommended designating $25,000 of public art funds as a donation to the DSS. In return for the donation, the City would receive one of the completed, life- sized sculptures for its public art collection. Prior to the commencement of the event, the City would be paired with one of the artists and could give him or her input on what type of sculpture would be appropriate for the City's collection. The DSS is seeking to secure one donor per invited artist, and will be approaching other community members and organizations to donate to the event. Donors who give $25,000 or more would receive a completed sculpture for their donation. The organizers of DSS are currently meeting with Coachella Valley art venues and high level art funders to secure the donations. If the City Council approves the City's participation in the DSS, the organizers have requested that funds for the event, both donations and payments to venders, be managed and processed by the City. The Director of Finance has indicated that the City could set up a trust account to accept and disburse funds on behalf of the event, and staff would manage the receipt and disbursement of funds. Staff would develop an agreement between the organizers of the DSS and the City, in which their financial relationship would be detailed, including what would happen if insufficient funds are collected for the event, or if there are extra funds at its conclusion. If insufficient funds are collected for the event, then the City would not be required to participate in the program. Staff has consulted with the City Attorney who indicated that Art in Public Places funds cannot be used to support any facet of the event other than a donation that would result in the acquisition of a sculpture. Therefore, staff suggests that, if there are any funds needed by the DSS in addition to the $25,000 being requested in this staff report, that the funds come from the General Fund. If this becomes necessary, staff would seek approval for further expenditures. In addition to the $25,000 donation and the processing of funds by the City, the event organizers are seeking a potential in-kind donation of a site for the event. Staff has recommended using the vacant pad at Entrada del Paseo to stage the event. The organizers are still looking at the Entrada del Paseo location and are exploring other non- City-owned sites, and have not yet determined which location best suits their needs. In addition to a donation of a location, the DSS organizers are seeking in-kind assistance with security patrols of the site throughout the duration of the event, assistance with chairs and tables for spectators to utilize during the event, and legal support to assist in drafting contracts. All of these details would be addressed once a location is determined and the appropriate number of donors is secured. Staff Report Desert Sculpture Symposium December 12, 2013 Page 3 of 3 Fiscal Analvsis Funds for the $25,000 donation are available in account number 436-4650-454-4001. Funds for incidentals needs to be appropriated from the General Fund Reserves into account 110- 4416-414-3062. In-kind support would include security, legal assistance, use of chairs and table, and use of City property. Submitted By: Department Head: r .�. �.::���:....� _,���....__._.___ Deborah L. Schwartz, Management Analyst Lauri Aylaian Director of Community Development Revi . CITY COUNCILA�I`ION APPROVED `� DF,NiF,D RECEIVED OTHER I ibson, Director of Finance MEET G DA - AYES: Approval: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: U c�� � VERIFIED BY: Original on File with ty lerk's Office J n M. Wohlmuth, City Manager Questions and Answers Q - When would this event take place and how is it structured? A—For the best results a year is needed to carefully plan the event. Presently we are looking at November 2014 when it is not so hot,but there is still good daylight. This will be a team approach. The team will have a Leader, Publicity, Legal, Logistics, Coordinator, Treasurer, and Documenter. Each person has an important responsibility. If the symposium is hooked to a non-profit or other benefit then donations are t� deductible and there are merchandizing possibilities. Q—How is this program funded? A—We are envisioning approaching several large sponsors like the City of Palm Desert, possibly another partnering city,Eisenhower Medical Center, College of the Desert, the McCallum Theater, the Desert Sun, the local Indian Tribe, the Betty Ford Center, the Annenberg Trust, and a select number of local cammercial and residential developments. Q—What is the typical cost per artist for a three to four week term? A - $10,000 artist fee, plus $1,800 plane fare, plus room and board. Q—Is there a set amount from each primary sponsor supporting an artist? A—This can work several different ways. Often the event is put on by a city or a private sculgture park. If there is one sponsor, they take it all. It is the easiest way, since they set all the rules of how the program operates. One town in France gave the highest contributing sponsor first choice of the art, the second highest, second choice, and so on. Towns place the sculptures wherever they want, by schools, key points of entry, and exits, in medians, parks, etc. Since this will be an invitational event, each artist will provide samples of their work, and sponsors can pick the style of work they are interested in. Q—Is there a theme for the art? A—There are symposiums with general themes. Often artists end up doing what they want to do regardless of theme. We can specify some general desert themes such as a soaring bird that might touch a cord with the Indian Tribe, or a figurative piece that could relate to history, or a human activity. Perhaps we could match artists with sponsors early on so that the artist could contemplate the needs of the sponsoring entity. Q—How would the sponsorship bene�t? Would the finished art piece become the property of the sponsor to either retain or sell? A—The finished piece does become the sole property of the sponsor. The artists give up a11 rights. One symposium in Portugal was put on solely by a gallery owner on his land, who later sold the works and made a huge profit. Some works end up in entry plazas, sometimes publicly dedicated and placed on civic property. Q—Where is the preferred location for this type of event? A—This could take place at the College of the Desert, or a public park for the duration. It can be used as a student or public educational tool, civic art engagement or entertainment. The artists will be approachable and they will be able to demonstrate every aspect of their work through the entire process. The site will need to be able to supply ample power to run a large air compressor and provide electricity for lighting. Ideally the site should have shade areas and seating for visitors, with access to restrooms. Q—How many artists would likely be involved? A—Eight to ten would be very feasible; expanding it to sixteen would require a lot of planning. Q—Would the symposium be open to other artists (painters,or use of other media)? A—No, in ihis case we know everyone who is being invited, so it is not necessarily an "open" event. The event has been designed around the sculptor's goals of expanding markets and insuring the highest level of professionalism. The sculptors set the rules. Q—Is there a sample contract? A—Each artist would sign a contract with the event organization. In most cases accepting the invitation is acceptance of a contract that basically states that each artist will be paid upon completion of the sculpture with full participation in all symposium events. Q—Would they all be carving marble,or would the materials vary? A—Most symposiums use an affordable local stone that is often donated from a local stone company. Sculptors prefer to carve either marble or limestone. Other types of stone can have some toxicity when carved. Marble is much harder than limestone, and less porous which offers better protection from damage or graffiti. However, we have the connections to send over from Italy a container of marble at the lowest possible price, this is unique,but nonetheless an added expense that does not normally enter into the equation. Still, it is the very best material in the world and investors would be assured of top quality. For 17 to 18 tons of marble in 8 to 10 pieces shipped from the quarries near Carrara and Pietrasanta, Italy to the desert we estimate a cost of$12,000. Q—What would be the term of the symposium? A—Not less than two weeks, not more than four weeks, averaging out at about three weeks. Q—Would all the work be done at one site,or various locations? A- For the best harmony amongst the artists, it is better to work at one site. It is also better for the logistics of compressed air and electricity. Q—How massive will the final sculptures be? A—If each of the artists start with a stone block of approximately 2.25 to 2.5 tons, they would typically remove about 30 percent of the material for the final product. This is about the minimum needed to do a life-size figure. Q—Would the artists typically be allowed to sell their other work at the site? A—There is sometimes a show of other works, but artists traveling from abroad are already bringing heavy tools, so whatever they bring would be very small. It is more likely that each artist would, over the course of the event, give a photographic or Powerpoint presentation of their work. Q—What is the proposed budget?—Tentative and subject to change A—A rough amount is $200,000. The budget breakdown is as follows: Marble+ shipping to Palm Desert and unloading $12,000 Artist Fee and travel expenses ($12,000 each x eight artists) $96,000 Housing, meals, ground transportation $25,000 Compressor, equipment rental, fuel, cranes, bases, permits $55,000 Logistics, coordination, deliveries, installations, repairs 12 000 Total $200,000 Q—Are there ways to reduce the overall costs? A—Yes, each artist needs to be able to walk away with an amount that makes it worth his or her time. In other symposiums there have been donations of housing. Restaurants can agree to feed the artists. In France, different households offered extra bedrooms, different restaurants provided an open tab for the artists. Equipment rental companies or construction companies have donated the air compressors. The schools could offer tables and chairs, or pop-up tents. Sometimes the city donates the fuel for the compressor. The college could donate the electricity that is used if their site is offered. Q—Are there websites for some of the artists? A—Yes, as follows: http://figurativesculptors.com/fisher.htm; http://www.nealbarab.com; http://www.jayaschuerch.com; http://www.freyalorenz.de/ie/home.htm; h�://www.art-3000.com/artis t/?id=2501---------- Q—Can you provide some images of the artist's work? A—As follows: SCULPTOR'S SYMPOSIUM PALM DESERT 2014 Symposium — "A formal meeting for the discussion of a particular subject, during which individuals make professional presentations".