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Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council

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Nashville Print Shop Tour

PAN Meeting at Isle of Printing in Nashville, 2014

Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council
by Karen Bubb, Public Art Manager

The Public Art Network (PAN) is the only national professional network dedicated to advancing public art. As part of the Americans for the Arts, headquartered in Washington, D.C., PAN develops professional services for individuals and organizations engaged in the diverse field of public art. It also provides advocacy, best practices, and educational opportunities—such as conferences and webinars—for artists and arts administrators.

As the City of Boise’s public arts manager, I’ve attended PAN’s conferences for fifteen years and integrated their policy and program models to shape Boise’s public art program. I’m currently the chairperson of the PAN Council, serving with thirteen committed, talented, and highly professional individuals. Others on the Council include the directors of the public art programs for San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, New York Transit Authority, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Utah State.

That Boise is among these great national leaders in the public art field is a tribute to the leadership provided by our Mayor and City Council, who created and are committed to a robust percent-for-art policy and a unique Department of Arts & History. It also reflects the respect that others have for Boise’s public art program, as this is a peer-elected position. This respect is born out of the great work of Idaho artists, who represent over 70% of the artists in our collection, and high-quality national work commissioned by the City of Boise.

Although—or even because— Boise is the most geographically isolated city of its size in the United States, it is essential for us to invest in cultivating cultural and professional connections with the rest of the country. Serving on the leadership council provides these opportunities.   It also gives Boise a voice. Through these efforts to engage with leaders in other cities, Boise has earned a place at the table where we influence the national direction of the public art field and share Idaho artists and Boise’s program successes with a national audience. This exposure is critical for Boise’s public art program and professional development for its artists.  For example, local artists Reham Aarti and Mark Baltes have developed their bodies of work through Boise commissions and have gone on to do work in other states. I am confident that more Idaho artists who have created art for the City will be hired to make public art for communities across the country.

In the coming year, I look forward to participating in a regional public art conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians have no similar public art organization so many join our meetings; this will be the first time we venture in to their territory to tour their public art collections and learn from their experiences. The next PAN conference will be held in Chicago in June 2015. From these meetings I expect to bring back valuable information, a broader perspective of what public art can be, and materials to share with artists through my daily work and the Public Art Academy, a free eight-week intensive public art course for Idaho artists held each February and March.

Residents of Boise can be proud that Boise’s public art program is considered one of the strongest in the country and that others look to us for new trends, professional practices, and talented artists.

 

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