Consider Donation of a Community Art Plan

The purpose of this case is to consider the donation of a community art plan (aka Public Art and Placemaking Plan), by the Ramsey Community Foundation to the City of Ramsey. This opportunity is being routed through the Park & Recreation Commission, ultimately for consideration by the City Council, as in many cities the Commission is often also the advisory body of citizens providing input on both matters of the public realm and 'culture' in addition to community programming.  Several attachments are included that highlight this arrangement in other communities, large and small.

The eighth attachment is a graphic that illustrates what public art can be, and where it may be found in the public realm. The next attachment is a 'dotmocracy' exercise conducted by the Foundation at the 2023 Art Fair at Elmcrest Park, wherein residents expressed their preferences for public art. The last two attachments contain background on the Ramsey Community Foundation.

For the meeting, staff will present additional background on what public art can be, examples of community art to-date in the city, the benefits of public art—as well as the intentions and outcomes of the community art plan as proposed by the Ramsey Community Foundation.

There is no funding required for considering a community art plan—rather, accepting the donation of a plan represents an $8,000 cash value from the Ramsey Community Foundation, and probably an equal amount in in-kind services and support.  Further, having a community art plan may best position the city in acquiring external funding for public art related projects into the future.

Staff recommends accepting the donation from the Ramsey Community Foundation as this case discusses.

Motion to recommend to City Council the acceptance of the donation of a community art plan for the City of Ramsey.