FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Liz Young, 295-4369

Art in Public Places Workshops

“The Art of Public Art”

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Marathon Community Theatre, Key Largo Public Library and The Studios of Key West are pleased to announce a new opportunity for Keys and visiting artists.  Professional development workshops will be presented to guide artists through the Public Art “application” process in Monroe County. These workshops will incorporate the overall Public Art arena, the County’s 1% Ordinance and the qualifying process. There will be no charge for the workshops, but registration is requested.  Please call/email the Arts Council at 295-4369 or info@keysarts.com.

Three free workshops will be offered as follows:

Monday, June 30^th

10 a.m., Marathon Community Theatre, 5101 Overseas Hwy., Marathon

2 p.m., Key Largo Library, Community Room MM 101.4, Tradewinds Shopping Center, Key Largo

Tuesday, July 1st

3 p.m., The Studios of Key West – Armory Building - 600 White Street Key West

Artists from Monroe County have a rare opportunity to attend a professional development workshop to learn how to apply for Public Art funds. How to complete the necessary documents to become qualified for the Monroe County program and projects all over the country will be discussed.  Upcoming projects include the Key West Airport McCoy Terminal, Big Pine Key Fire Station, Conch Key Fire Station and several other County projects.

The Art in Public Places program in Monroe County consists of a five member county Commissioner appointed committee.  The AIPP committee is responsible for the commission and purchase of art by contemporary artists in any media.  The 1% ordinance mandates new county building construction (costing a minimum of $500,000 and renovations costing a min. of $100,000) to be set aside for this program.  The committee pre-qualifies, reviews and recommends Public Art projects to the Board of County Commissioners.  The Florida Keys Council of the Arts staff administers for the AIPP committee.

The deadline for new applications to be reviewed will be Thursday, August 28^th.

Artists must meet the criteria in the initial application process to become qualified.  Then

they will be eligible to receive the Request for Proposals (RFP’S) issued by the Arts Council

for up to five years.  

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is pleased to present these workshops to assist local artists interested in the art of Public Art and strongly recommends attendance at one of the workshops before completing the application process. 

Americans for the Arts states that there is a rising interest in Public Art in the nation, with over 500 programs today both public and privately funded at the national, state and local levels. “We are seeing the enhancements public art can offer in generating a sense of place in a community.”

For more information contact Liz Young or Andrea Comstock at the Arts Council 295-4369 or on the website www.keysarts.com