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Justine Bursoni hails from Chicago. She tried as hard as possible to leave here, graduating after three years of Art History school. It was Custard Cup that forced her to stay. She now lives in downtown Champaign and works as a nanny and at the Orpheum Children's Science Museum.
Over the past eight months, Urbana's Public Arts Task Force (encompassing seventeen local working artists), with the support of Urbana's Art Coordinator, Anna Hochhalter, have developed a Public Arts Program for Urbana. In order to directly support the arts in our community, the new program calls for the creation of a permanent Public Arts Commission and Public Arts Trust Fund, with an allocation of $4 per capita going into the fund to support an Arts Director and Annual Grants. One percent of any city building construction or renovation project over a half a million dollars will be put aside for project costs for the arts as well. Their mission statement is as follows: "The Urbana Public Arts Commission is established to recognize the arts as essential to the vitality of our city. The commission fosters a dynamic, innovative Urbana, where all residents — emerging artists, established artists, and 'non-artists' alike — may engage with the arts in its many forms and where artists thrive and are valued."
Art supporters of Champaign-Urbana are highly encouraged to come out tonight at 7 p.m. to City Hall, located at 400 S. Vine St, in Urbana, and voice their opinion on the Public Arts Program. Each person will be allowed up to five minutes to speak before the council, or one may simply fill out a form and write in either support or rejection for the Public Arts Program.
The Urbana City Council will vote to create a Public Arts Program for the city, and you can make your voice heard in multiple ways. If you are unable to make it out tonight, you may also email your support for the Public Arts Program to the City Council and Mayor Laurel Prussing. Simply send a note of support to them by cutting and pasting the following addresses: dlchynoweth@city.urbana.il.us, lcbarnes@city.urbana.il.us, relewis@city.urbana.il.us, hstevenson4@yahoo.com, bowersox@prairienet.org, csmyth@sbcglobal.net, droberts@uillinois.edu, llprussing@city.urbana.il.us, alhochhalter@city.urbana.il.us
Comments (1)
Saturday, March 15, 2008 10:03 AM
I think one of many reasons Urbana may lack broad based support for funding is a lack of focus of the task force. If one goes to the Omaha, Nebraska website one sees and inspiring video on "you tube" that clearly makes the art a tourist destination in itself. If one goes to Albuquerque, New Mexico website one sees a collection of murals that have clearly raised property values. It seems to me the task force is more interested making sure everyone the know can have access to the funds right down to the former director of the Park District.
It also seems to me that the proposal of making part time employee, Anna Hochhalter full time is unwarranted. Staff may answer to task forces but they should be able to convince the public on the merit of their research and presentations. Do you even see links to other cities art programs on the Urbana website? If this basic skill level is not being met I don't think more hours and benefits will solve the problem. I would like to see a competitive, project oriented staff assignments on a part time basis to find that inspiration for the community. Heck even Effingham has an arts project, its not that wild or complicated an idea.