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Storms: Funding Public Art Low Priority In Tough Times

Tribune file photo (2008)

Storms, a Republican from Brandon, filed a bill to repeal a requirement that the state purchase artwork for public buildings.

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 24, 2009

BRANDON - During an economic crisis in which families are struggling to make their mortgage payments, state Sen. Ronda Storms wonders whether it's necessary to spend $50,000 to $100,000 on colorful, giant steel pinwheels clustered around the Florida Department of Transportation's Turkey Lake Turnpike Service Plaza in Orange County.

The Brandon Republican also questions whether the more than 100 pieces of public art occupying the University of South Florida's Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses contribute anything to the quality of the education students receive.

Although she has nothing against art, Storms said the state is spending too much money on public art when too many residents are suffering financially. She said that's the reason she filed Senate Bill 1104, which would repeal the Art in State Public Buildings Program established by the Legislature in 1979.

The program, established by the Legislature in 1979, requires that a percentage of funds used to build state buildings must be set aside for permanent public art.

Her bill has cleared the Senate's Government Oversight and Accountability and General Government Appropriation committees and is on its way to a full hearing of the Senate. A companion House Bill 1295, sponsored by state Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, passed through the Government Affairs Policy and Government Operations Appropriations committees and goes on to the Economic Development Community Affairs Policy Council for review this week.

"While I certainly believe art and culture provide wonderful benefits to Florida, I do not believe that at this time most Floridians want to continue this luxury when people are losing their jobs and seniors and children are losing health services," she said. "Last year, we spent close to $700,000 on public art and, in the next two cycles, we are scheduled to spend close to $655,000."

At the same time, Storms said she is battling for funding to continue cleft lip repair surgeries for babies from low-income families and abused and abandoned children.

"I just can't justify spending tax money on art when there are so many more pressing needs," she said.

Glorioso was not available for comment. However, Storms isn't going to get an argument from Brandon's representative in the House, Republican Rachel Burgin.

Burgin said she's concerned that the public art program could halt the construction of needed facilities.

"The price of public art could affect the construction of buildings because it's based upon the square footage and overall cost of the building," she said.

Under the program, the cost of the art can't be more than half of 1 percent of the total cost of the building or $100,000, whichever is less. The average the state paid for a work of art was $7,955. The state spent a total of $406,725 for public art in 2005; $294,069 in 2006; and $701,389 in 2007.

The statute applies only to buildings with public access. It excludes prisons, secure areas, maintenance sheds and other structures the public normally would not visit.

Under the statute, more than 1,000 works of art have been purchased and installed in state buildings, including universities, state parks, Department of Transportation district offices and state agency buildings.

Although the State Department's Division of Cultural Affairs oversees the program, it uses local art selection committees to set the criteria for the artwork, solicit artists, review the artists who have applied, select artists based on their proposals and oversee the installation of the artwork.

The artists do not have to hail from or live in Florida. There are two public works of art recently commissioned at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. One, scheduled to be completed in April, is by Maine artist Nancy O'Neil. The other, due to be finished in September, is by Brooklyn, N.Y., artist Howard Kalish.

That's not to say Florida residents don't have the opportunity and haven't received commissions for public art. Brandon sculptor Candace Knapp has been a contender for such commissions and said the ordinance is an invaluable cultural enhancement. In addition, she said the public art program supports artists who work in large scale and traditionally have nowhere else to display their art outside of museums.

Knapp, secretary of the Greater Brandon Arts Council, is joining fellow Brandon artists in urging the community to write letters and send e-mails in opposition to Storms' proposal.

"It's a tiny percentage of the overall building cost," she said. "I can't believe this is even being proposed. A lot of tourists come here just because of our beautiful art. Why would you want to cut that out?"

"To me, it's a major step backward for art and culture," said Lisa Rodriguez, a board member of the arts council and Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Center in Brandon. "I feel strongly that this funding needs to stay in place, and the community needs to voice its concern."

Storms' bill would affect only the state statute. Hillsborough County has its own public art ordinance regulating art in public places. Under the county ordinance passed in 1989, public art projects are limited to 1 percent of the construction budget or $200,000, whichever is less.

However, the county ordinance has had its share of controversy. In 1993, residents raised a fuss when the county spent $33,000 on five aluminum dog and cat sculptures by Pennsylvania artist Rosalie Sherman to grace the front of the Hillsborough County Animal Services headquarters on Falkenburg Road. Residents were equally divided on whether the county got its money's worth when it paid New York artist William King $29,000 for an aluminum sculpture of stick figures in front of the Brandon Regional Library on Vonderburg Drive.

Since passing its ordinance, Hillsborough has installed about 30 pieces of public art and is soliciting artists for five more pieces.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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