City of Port Townsend
Port Townsend Arts Commission

Public Art Plan
2008/2009

Background:

The City of Port Townsend has a deep and abiding commitment to art and culture, as articulated in the Community Direction Statement from the Comprehensive Plan:  “A regional center of culture and learning, Port Townsend provides its citizens with quality elementary and secondary instruction, as well as career training and college education needed for success and personal enrichment.  The City offers world class arts and entertainment and continually celebrates its cultural and historical assets by hosting many exciting festivals and events.  Anywhere in town, we are only a convenient bike ride or walk from work, classes, dining, entertainment, and home.  This closeness reinforces the tie between Port Townsend’s economy, culture and a large residential community.  People live here because they enjoy being in the midst of the natural beauty and cultural amenities of Port Townsend.”

The City of Port Townsend, Art in Public Places Policy and Procedures stipulates that the Public Art Committee of the Port Townsend Arts Commission “prepare an annual plan that identifies and prioritizes public projects that shall include public artwork.  The Public Art Plan may include artwork resulting from city construction projects as well as artwork proposed by community groups or other public departments or boards for placement at existing facilities.”

The Opportunity:

As codified in the PTMC Chapter 3.50, the City “allocates 1% of the capitalized costs of eligible public construction projects for the creation or placement of artwork or works as part of the construction project.”

The City currently has several such public capital projects that are in process or in the planning phases.  As a result, the Public Art Committee and the Port Townsend Arts Commission recommend the following Public Art Plan for 2008/2009.

The Plan

The Conceptual Framework:

The Committee is committed to the core community values of the City of Port Townsend including the notion of “quality of place,” thereby ensuring that the City remains an attractive place to live, work and visit.   The arts are essential to guarantee that quality of life and to ensure that we remain a vibrant and engaged community.  The Committee believes that public art is also a key component of an arts-based economic development strategy since it is a public investment in the cultural fabric that links infrastructure to community sustainability, economic vitality and civic values.

There are two current major capital construction projects planned for Port Townsend, one for the downtown Water Street area, the maritime entrance to Port Townsend and the other for Upper Sims Way, the vehicular entrance to the City.  Our community has a rich heritage as an active seaport and cultural destination, supported by a robust business and commercial sector.  We now have an opportunity to unite, symbolically and literally, the City’s business and cultural realms through the placement of public art at the two portals to Port Townsend.  A cultural and commercial corridor iconically marked by public art sited at the gateways will enhance the City’s identity as a venue for world class arts while also serving as a key development asset, contributing to the local economy.

The sole reason for prioritizing is a reflection of the City’s stated capital funding and construction schedule.

Priority #1:  Downtown Urban Streetscape and Waterfront Area:

The City has adopted a downtown urban streetscape plan that includes the enhancement of existing open spaces, the adaptive reuse of established architectural and design elements, the addition of new and the augmentation of existing community meeting places, and the use of landscaping that invites public engagement.  This revitalized waterfront area, stretching from the Northwest Maritime Center at Point Hudson to Quincy Street, will celebrate the intersection of our historic and commercial cityscape with accessible seascape.  Public art will be sited within this location, creating an area of public focus for activities which complement our maritime connection, public markets, special events, and community gatherings.

Priority #2:  Upper Sims Way Urban Landscape and Howard Street Corridor:

The City is committed to the improvement, renovation and enhancement of the main vehicular entrance to Port Townsend on State Route 20/Upper Sims Way and to the development of a new corridor on Howard Street.   As funding becomes available for these projects, there will be a unique opportunity to site public art in a way that enlivens the streetscape, stimulates cultural activity, promotes wayfinding, and reflects the creativity and entrepreneurial life of Port Townsend. 

Siting and Usage:

Recommendations about the specifics of placement will emerge through the work of the Artist Selection Panel.  The Public Art Committee is committed to the process for decision-making outlined in the Art in Public Places Policy as well as to the notion of thoughtfully inclusive participation by the public and stakeholders.

It is our intent, however, that the work(s) be sited so as to enliven the urban streetscape on Upper Sims Way and/or to encourage pedestrian activity in the downtown Water Street area while catalyzing residents and visitors alike to engage with the art and participate in the cultural vibrancy of the City.  Port Townsend is both intimate in scale and infinite in scope and the siting, quality and context of the public art will be emblematic of those characteristics. 

It is the intention of this Art Plan that the Artist Selection Panel—to be constituted as percent for the arts funding becomes available and as per the Art in Public Places Policy-- will duly consider all of these aspirations and attributes of the City’s cultural and commercial community as it makes recommendations about artists, art and placement. 

PTAC approved and recommended to Council 12/8/08