The Art in Public Places ("AiPP") program is a robust program for curating and commissioning permanent (and temporary) public art. The program, created in 1984, allocates funds from City construction projects and joint private/public projects for artworks commissioned by the City's public art program that add value to the art collection, attract international attention, and celebrate the diversity and heritage of Miami Beach. Recent examples of this include the permanent installation in Soundscape Park by Bill Fontana and the monumental works commissioned for the Miami Beach Convention Center by artists Franz Ackermann, Ellen Harvey, Joseph Kosuth, Sarah Morris, Joep Van Lieshout and Elmgreen and Dragset.
Works of temporary public art are intended to occupy a place and have a presence in the public realm for a finite period of time. Temporary artistic installations have demonstrated the opportunity for creative placemaking while leveraging the arts for economic development. The approach aims to increase vibrancy, improve economic conditions, and build capacity among residents to take ownership of their communities. Non-construction related art and temporary installations of public art are not funded through the AiPP ordinance. There are no other funds currently allocated to the development of temporary artistic installations throughout the City. Funding is required to commission recurring temporary public art installations in key City of Miami Beach multiple locations.
When reflecting on how the City can become an art and culture leader staff recommends it is prudent to explore the availability of temporary artistic installations locally, regionally and globally and whether and where the City can temporarily engage, attract, retain and inspire our residents, guests and tourist alike and reenergize our business corridors and neighborhoods.
Funding History
At the March 22, 2019 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) meeting, a discussion was held to determine a funding source in the amount of $300,000 for the commissioning of temporary public art projects. It was recommended by the FCWPC that the Cultural Arts Council Fund serve as the funding source for a temporary artistic installation. This recommendation was approved by the City Commission at its April 10, 2019 meeting, pursuant to Resolution 2019-30784.
The City’s first temporary public art initiative launched December 1-15, 2019 during Art Week Miami Beach with a monumental site-specific installation by Argentinean conceptual artist Leandro Erlich. Order of Importance was a temporary intervention on the 17th Street beachfront and comprised of 66 life-size sculptures of cars and trucks, which were open for public interaction throughout the duration of the fifteen-day exhibition. The installation was featured in the NY Times, Vogue, Architectural Digest, The Guardian, CBS, ABC, and CNN Style, among others, garnering over 411M unique international social media views.
When the temporary public art initiative was established in FY 19-20, the Cultural Arts Council Fund Balance available for appropriation was $4,280,368, as of September 30, 2019. Since this time, the Cultural Arts Council Fund Balance has been used to fund COVID-19 Culture Emergency Relief Grants, as well as Cultural Arts Council grants for FY 19-20 and FY 20-21. The current projected balance available is $1,092.717, which is to be utilized for the FY 21-22 grant cycle. At this time, the Cultural Arts Council Fund Balance is no longer able to financially support the temporary public art initiative.