Fund to support public arts projects
Clark County commissioners crafted an arts fund Tuesday for public art projects. The money would come from room and property taxes otherwise slated for the county general fund. The arts fund will be capped at $1.25 million.
The money will be used for murals, sculpture and other art projects, with the idea that the performing arts might be added later on.
"It's a new day for Clark County," said Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who sponsored the proposal. "It's one more way to build a community, and that's what we're trying to focus on. Young people and their families will have something to celebrate. This really encourages economic diversification. Arts and culture are really a driver, and as we promote this, you can link tourism into this."
The county spent about $19,000 on arts projects last year.
In December, the county parks and recreation department will present a plan on how the money can be used. The department will survey people and solicit a call for artists, who will submit plans for the piece they want to create. A jury of parks and recreation employees, artists not competing for the projects and residents will select which artist is awarded money to create the piece of public art.
The idea is modeled after a Las Vegas public arts fund that sets aside 1 percent of funding for capital construction projects built within the city.
Giunchigliani said commissioners will review the plan annually with funding being made available at the start of next year. Commissioners can suspend the allocation if there are dire economic conditions, she added.
Dozens of artists and their less artistic allies came out in support of the plan, citing it as a "cultural investment" for the county that can retain locals, keep kids out of trouble, create a new branch of tourism and provide another option for artistic endeavors as schools consider cutting arts programs to save budgets.
Commissioner Larry Brown expressed cautious support for the plan, saying "the county is a different animal" in the municipal services it provides, including social services. Restricted funding for University Medical Center and McCarran International Airport, among others, would not be included.
"Before we trigger any dollars, this commission will entertain an arts plan prior to the money being allocated," Brown said. "If we're going to expand services at Clark County, it's certainly an expansion and a worthy one, we have to acknowledge that something is going to be given a take away. I will support (it) only because the plan comes first on how the money is allocated."
Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.
