North Adams Art Commission Considers Cultural Master Plan
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Public Arts Commission is being charged to come up with a public art master plan for the city — but commissioners want more information on what is expected of them.
Chairwoman Anna Farrington said the plan came up during discussions with Mayor Thomas Bernard on agenda items for the commission, which has seen a significant changeover in members this year. Farrington was voted in as chairman a couple months ago.
"I think it's a delightful idea. I think the city needs a plan," she said but acknowledged to commissioners' questions that she wasn't sure what it would entail. "I think I need to do a little more research before we really have any meaningful conversations about it, I haven't had a chance to look into what other cities are doing, or have put in place."
Farrington said she wanted to broach the plan to the commissioners so they could begin thinking about it.
"I would say before we spend a second thinking about, there's a conversation about a budget," said Commissioner Eric Kerns. "Because there's no point in spending a bunch of time making a plan for something that could never be paid for."
The Public Arts Commission has been struggling with its place in the city's governance since its creation nearly four years ago. It's founding ordinance has been rewritten twice since then, it's seen member turnover and it's been trying to feel out its role as both arts advocate and permitting authority.
"I was just wondering if he brought that up that that should happen," said Commissioner William Blackmer about providing the commission with a budget. "I'm wondering what his thoughts are and what that plan is? I think we should have a master plan. OK. What is your concept of that?"
Farrington said before they continued the conversation she wanted to look at other master plans, in particular a New York town and Boise, Idaho. According to Boise's website, its cultural master plan is an "overview of existing cultural resources and strategic vision for future investments." It was lead by Boise's Department of Arts & History that was established in 2008.
"I'm willing to look into those two cities and see if I can get more information," Farrington said. "That was part of our meeting, I wanted to make sure that you guys understand."
Kerns said he wasn't trying to put the kibosh on the idea, it was "just the idea of creating reports that, you know, get filed away like the Ark of the Covenant and never see the light of day."
Farrington said the mayor was also was working on a City Hall contact for the commission, which has not had any significant support on the same level as other committees and boards.
"He is working on identifying a city liaison for the Public Arts Commission, which will be helpful," she said. "So people have someone here at City Hall that they can walk in and talk to and get hard copies of proposal materials if necessary."
The mayor had also told her the PAC's website would have to be decommissioned and materials placed on the commission's page on the city website. The prior commissioners had created the page because the city website is outdated and inconvenient. The public site they launched was easier to update and had information on the commission, links to stories about the commission and forms and information for applicants — but it was not under City Hall control.
Farrington suggested a pdf of the site's current content could be posted on the city site so it would not be lost.
She had also spoken to the mayor about appointing a commissioner to fill unexpired term of Cynthia Quinones, who resigned, and that he had chosen Alyssa "Laini" Sporbert. Sporbert was approved by the City Council on Tuesday.
In other business:
• The commission approved the addition of a plaque to the statue being donated to the North Adams Public Library in memory of Judith Ann "Jody" LaFortune Gottwald, whose long career as a librarian was inspired there. MaryAnn Abuisi, Gottwald's sister, said she anticipated a dedication for the statue in mid-July.
• In response to Commissioner Bryan Sapienza suggestions of using the City Hall lobby as a gallery for student art, Farrington said the mayor had suggested working through the School Department.
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