Permission to Place Art on Minneapolis City Property
Neighborhood organizations or other groups may apply to place artworks on City property or within the right of way. The policies that govern decisions regarding these applications are outlined in the City of Minneapolis Public Art Policies and Procedures, for Gifts and Loans and Encroachment Permits, as well as other City policies and ordinances on issues such as banner permits, signage, encroachment in the right of way, and special service districts.
Most applications are approved. One of the main purposes of the review process is to educate applicants about technical issues that need to be addressed in order for their projects to be successful. To that end, the Arts Commission and the Public Art Advisory Panel often make recommendations to the applicant for strengthening their projects, including ideas for:
- Maintenance planning and so projects have a longer life spans;
- Avoiding damage from maintenance equipment and vandalism;
- Addressing issues of public safety and handicapped accessibility;
- Supporting artist’s copyrights;
- Developing projects at a scale that is doable for the applicant and City staff.
Find a list of technical questions to consider in developing a public art project.
Paint the Pavement Projects
Painted intersections (“Paint the Pavement”) projects are allowed on sidewalks and residential streets. (They are not allowed at or on school crossings, intersections with marked crosswalks, signalized intersections, State- and County-designated roads, or any roadway approaching a major arterial). There are three deadlines during 2014 for submitting these projects.
Wrapped and Painted Utility Boxes
The City of Minneapolis permits requests from citizen groups and non-profit organizations paint or wrap City-owned utility boxes. Most city-owned utility boxes operate traffic signals. Map of signalized intersections. There are two options for wrapping and painting city-owned boxes.
- Minneapolis Arts Wraps is a quicker and easier option for wrapping utility boxes that provides 12 pre-approved designs created by local artists for groups to use.
- Custom Designed Utility Boxes: Neighborhoods and groups may also commission their own designs for Utility boxes. There are three deadlines during 2014 for submitting these projects.
All Other Public Art Proposals
To be located on City Property or in the Right of Way
The City also permits a variety of other public art projects such as artistic banners, bike racks, sculptural works, benches, waste containers, murals, mosaics, etc. These may be proposed for City property (a City-owned building or lot), or for the Right of Way.
Sample Approved Applications
(SPECIAL NOTE: THESE APPLICATIONS ARE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS AND MAY NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE 2013 GUIDELINES).
- Corcoran Intersection Painting
- Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association Utility Box Proposal (pdf)
- 15th Street Gateway Mural (pdf)
- Bicycling Counts Proposal (pdf) (Temporary Projected Project)
- Sid Hartman Statue (pdf)
Property Owner: Before submitting an application, we strongly recommend you determine whether your desired locations are City property or within the right of way. Desired locations could also be on private property, Hennepin County property or on the property of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Projects proposed for the Midtown Greenway may be permitted by the City or County, but all are reviewed first by the Minneapolis Arts Commission.
Contact us early in your planning process: To find out whether your desired locations require City approval, which policies may affect your proposal, which review bodies need to be involved, and what the review timeline may be, contact the City’s Public Arts Administrator, Mary Altman.
Last updated Mar 26, 2014
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