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PHOTOS OF THE URBAN ART COLLECTION

URBAN ART PROGRAM GUIDELINES

The Urban Art Program Guidelines (2021) details procedures required to implement and fulfill the requirements of the Urban Art Program (often referred to as the Percent for Art Requirement). Through sound administration of the program the City hopes to develop and support quality art projects that can be enjoyed by the whole community.

Urban Art Program Guidelines (2021) [Download Document]

The Urban Art Program provides a mechanism to integrate free and accessible art into the urban fabric of the City. In particular, the Urban Art Program is motivated by a desire to ameliorate some of the effects new development has on the community. New development often results in intensified use of land where larger structures seem imposing and inaccessible to the public. Urban art can help soften this effect and provide interaction and connection between the public and private domains.

The goals of the Urban Art Program are to:

• Ensure that West Hollywood remains a leader in providing art and cultural amenities for its residents and visitors, enhancing the vitality, sustainability, and identity of the city.

• Build the City’s creative capacity by providing public art of the highest quality throughout the community, encouraging innovative approaches to public art and nurturing artists.

• Integrate the work of professional artists into the planning and design of the built environment to make West Hollywood an even better place to live, work and play.

• Stimulate the local economy as a result of making West Hollywood a preferred destination for residents and businesses as well as a key center for culture, recreation, and tourism.

• Match or exceed current standards of public art practice by municipalities.

• Reflect the innovative and creative nature of the history of the City of West Hollywood

The City requires Developer to hire a qualified Art Consultant to assist with the Artist selection and development of the Urban Art Plan. All Art Consultants must be approved by the City. Approved Art Consultants are placed on the West Hollywood Urban Art Program Consultant Roster which serves as a resource for Developers interested in pursuing an on-site art project to fulfill the urban art ordinance.

The Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, through its Urban Art Subcommittee, has approval authority for all Urban Art projects.

APPLICABLE PROJECTS

All new development with a value of $200,000 or more; or the alteration or repair of a structure increasing the total gross floor area or otherwise intensifying the use, where such alteration, intensification, or repair has a value of $200,000 or more. The development value or "Project Value," shall be determined by the City Building Official.

Exempt Projects

• Rehabilitation of private property that is primarily financed with public funds.
• Residential structures of one or two units.
• Alteration, construction, or repair financed by funds collected in compliance with development exactions.
• Cultural Resources that are residential buildings.
• Projects that are intended primarily to provide facilities for nonprofit public service providers. 

WAYS TO SATISFY THE URBAN ART REQUIREMENT

Pay the In-lieu fee: Contribute cash in the amount of one percent of the Project Value to the West Hollywood Public Art and Beautification Fund, this is called the In-Lieu Fee Alternative (the “Art Fee”). Payment of the Art Fee constitutes fulfillment of the urban art ordinance. A Developer may not pursue an on-site urban art work to fulfill the urban art ordinance after the fee has been paid. The Art Fee shall be the sole means for which the Developer can satisfy the City’s urban art requirement.

OR

Incorporate a Permanent Artwork into a Development: Developers wishing to meet the requirements of the Urban Art Program by including art or an integrated Arts and Culture Venue on the project site must develop an Urban Art Plan concurrently with the design and development phases of the building project. On-site art must be original work, publicly accessible, produced by a practicing Artist, and designed and fabricated specifically for the building project site (See Urban Art Program Administrative Guidelines, Section 4.5: Types of Art for On-Site Art Projects). The Urban Art Program review process is seen as a collaborative one, with the single aim of developing the best possible art for the project and the community at large. The art must be an integral part of the development project and the Artist must be selected at the inception of the building’s design process. The Art Consultant must be selected from the City's Prequalified List (contact staff for the current list). 

APPROVAL PROCESS WITH ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION

The period required for approval will depend on the completeness of the submissions at each stage. The Developer shall present the required documents for each stage of the urban art process to the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee shall make a recommendation to the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Each stage of the process is subject to review and approval by the Commission.

Projects are reviewed in four stages. The first three stages require presentations to the Urban Art Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. The final stage is coordinated directly with city staff:

Prior to the STAGE I review, a Developer may, at their option, request an introductory meeting with the Subcommittee to introduce their development project and to receive assistance in determining the art opportunity for the development.

The Urban Art Subcommittee of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission oversees the implementation of the City's Urban Art Program and generally meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 5:00pm. Check the City Calendar for additional information.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE URBAN ART PROGRAM

The Urban Art Program was initiated in 1987 and is codified in the City's Municipal Code - Title 19, Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 19.38: Urban Art Program. Section 19.38.060 of the Ordinance entitled "Procedures, Guidelines, and Requirements" directs the City to establish by resolution the procedures and guidelines for implementing the Urban Art Program. In 2001 the City adopted a revised ordinance that requires developments of most projects greater than $200,000 to place art on-site equal in value to one percent (1%) of the project value, or to contribute an equal amount into the West Hollywood Public Art and Beautification Fund. In 2021, the City Council approved revised Administrative Guidelines to strengthen the Urban Art Program review process for the benefit of the entire community.

In 2007, the Commission created the Urban Art Conservation Program to preserve the City’s permanent Urban Art Collection. Urban art projects created under the Urban Art Program are automatically added to the Urban Art Collection. This program periodically addresses the condition of public art works in West Hollywood and subsequently notifies property owners with a report on the condition of the art work and their responsibility to maintain these art works under the City’s Urban Art Program. The Urban Art Conservation Program also serves as an informational resource for property owners who need advice about art conservation.

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MORE INFORMATION

For questions about the Urban Art Program please contact Marcus Mitchell, Public Art Administrator, 323-848-3122 or mmitchell@weho.org. 

RESOURCES:

Images of the City of West Hollywood's Urban Art Collection

Google Map the City of West Hollywood's Urban Art Collection

25th Anniversary Urban Art Walking Guide