The City of Greater Sudbury’s elected officials are considering a boost in public art funding through their Public Art Master Plan, which they’re voting on during their Feb. 13 meeting.
Since 2022, the city has earmarked $25,000 annually toward a public art reserve fund, which has gone toward hiring a consultant for the master plan, the commission of murals, maintaining the legal graffiti wall and other general program funding.
The proposed master plan includes two options for funding, both of which propose boosts.
Option 1 would see the city increase funding to $250,000 per year, collecting $1 million over four years.
Option 2 would see the city gradually boost funding to hit $125,000 in 2028, including a four-year expenditure of $350,000.
The master plan also proposes a contribution of up to one per cent of the capital budget for public art in municipal facilities, to a maximum of $500,000.
“Annual funding for a public art program is still required because if one per cent of new capital projects is the only mechanism used to invest in public art in Greater Sudbury, neighbourhoods without new capital work and without major private developments will not see any investment in public art,” according to the master plan.
The one-per-cent contribution would also not include other areas of public art funding, such as temporary art projects, digital art content, educational activities and other efforts.
The City of Greater Sudbury’s proposed Public Art Master Plan includes several comparables when it comes to public art funding. By population base, the following is what the two municipalities on either side of Greater Sudbury put into public art per year:
- Kingston funds up to $250,000 annually
- Barrie funds one per cent for municipal projects over $1 million
- Peterborough’s public art policy cites a funding goal of one per cent of the city’s annual capital levy toward public art
- Burlington spends $200,000 to $250,000 annually
In Greater Sudbury, the funds would cover such things as a public art collection inventory, public art maintenance reserve fund, a matching public art grant program, and public art commissions.
The proposed Public Art Master Plan includes much more than a funding boost, and in its own words, also encompasses “decision-making, management, and acquisition processes for the City’s role in public art provision and support in Greater Sudbury.”
The vision, according to the master plan, is: “Greater Sudbury is a Northern cultural capital celebrated from coast to coast to coast for its artistic excellence, vibrancy and creativity. The city’s public art helps breathe life into our entire community, showcases the immense talent of its artists, draws inspiration from the land, and builds on the city’s rich multicultural heritage.”
The Feb. 13 city council meeting begins at 6 p.m. and can be viewed in-person at Tom Davies Square or livestreamed by clicking here.
Editor's note: This policy came up for discussion during the Feb. 27, 2024, city council meeting. A decision by city council regarding annual funding is expected sometime in 2026.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
