SNOHOMISH — On June 4, the City Council discussed implementing a Percent for the Arts initiative where 1% of the budget to construct city projects would be dedicated to adding public art.
The city’s director of community engagement and strategic initiatives, Shari Ireton, asked the council to address funding mechanisms, oversight, and expenditures toward an initiative.
Ireton proposed that the council look at how much they want to invest. Washington cities with percent for arts programs typically dedicate either 0.5% or 1% of their project budgets to arts. It would be either dedicating 50 cents or $1 per $100 spent, which for a $1 million project would pencil out to $50,000 or $100,000 for adding art.
She made suggestions about having a board. Some boards make recommendations to either the mayor or staff. Others are independent and are established nonprofits in their communities. A few regulating boards advise local government on art.
Ireton said the council should consider a non-statutory board. This eliminates requirements linked to regulating boards such as setting meeting frequencies and having town residency requirements.
A board “would allow for the mayor and staff to have quick access to experts in the field to help guide certain projects and it will also allow for growing or changing the committee if a project requires additional feedback,” Ireton said.
Council members had additional questions. Councilmember Maygen Hetherington wanted to know if they could explore having a similar organization to the Snohomish Arts Community work under contract.
Much of the discussion was cost-related. Councilmember Karen Guzak said the future City Hall will bring in a lot of revenue and money from infrastructure. This is where the 0.5% or 1% comes into play. Infrastructure creates revenue to pour into public art, she said.
Also discussed was that the funding mechanism will be mostly for the infrastructure and additional funding will be reduced due to cuts to budgeting.
Guzak, Councilmember David Flynn and Councilmember Tom Merrill will work out the finer details in a subcommittee.
The initiative for the arts is being postponed until the biennium 2025-26 budget discussions set to start in a few months.
Flynn is an advocate for the arts, and wants to see the local arts community grow.
“I am confident that if we all had an understanding of how art, design, culture integrated into our community,” it makes for a common ground, Flynn said.
