Brent Lutz (left) presenting the City of Melfort's plans for a public art policy to numerous members of the city's art community. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Public's Part in Melfort Art

City of Melfort seeking input ahead of establishing art policy

Oct 2, 2019 | 12:28 PM

Throughout 2019, staff members from the City of Melfort have been seeking ideas and recommendations for its first public art policy.

The art policy’s blueprint was presented by Brent Lutz, Melfort’s director of development, planning, and community relations, in front of multiple members of the art community on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Kerry Vickar Centre.

One of the key parts of the city’s potential art policy is the establishment of Melfort’s public art advisory committee.

“There are a number of groups we identified that would be a part of the makeup of the advisory committee we’re planning to establish,” Lutz told northeastNOW. “We certainly wanted to make sure they would be engaged in this matter and be interested in participating. Getting their feedback early in the process is important.”

The committee would feature one city councillor from the city services committee to act as chairperson, one member from Communities in Bloom, one member from Heritage Communities, one member of the local artist community, and one member of the community at large.

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Attendees gave Lutz their thoughts on other voices in the community that should also be represented in a public art advisory committee.

“There was a comment that we should try to have representation from the youth and another that it represents the multicultural nature of our community,” Lutz said.

The committee would receive support from Melfort’s administrative staff and provide advice to council for decisions such as selecting public art to purchase or receive as a donation, or where to place art in the community.

“Council will have this committee to rely on to provide professional advice that reflects the interests of the community and then they can make their decisions accordingly,” Lutz said. “People are engaged, want to be creative, and want to make Melfort a better and more beautiful place to live. This policy will create a clear process. It’ll be fair and adjudicated on the calibre of the work and appropriateness of the situation.”

Lutz will take the recommendations he received from the art community and incorporate them into Melfort’s public art policy. He expects the policy to be put in front of council in November, giving the city time to select committee members and be ready by 2020 to receive and place art within the community.

The City of Melfort is still encouraging anyone with ideas regarding the public art policy to contact city hall.

“We’d love to sit down and have a discussion with them if they’ve got anything they feel is relevant to the establishment of this policy,” Lutz said.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow