Artistic Utility Boxes, Intersections and Other Projects

Placing Art on City Property: Artistic Utility Boxes, Painted Intersections and Other Projects

Neighborhood organizations or other groups may apply to place artworks on City property or within the Right of Way. The policies related to these applications are outlined in the City's Public Art Policies and Procedures, for Gifts and Loans and Encroachment Permits, and in other City policies and ordinances on issues such as banner permits, signage, encroachment in the right of way, and special service districts.

Please check out the permit instructions below! The instructions should provide a clear understanding on the opportunities for placing art on city property or in the Right of Way, and the application process for those opportunities.

Table of Contents

Starting a Public Art Project
Public Art Permits for 2017
Application Cycles
Application Forms, Examples, and Helpful Tools

Starting a Public Art Project

Here is a list of helpful questions to consider while developing a public art project.

Determine the Property Owner!

Before submitting an application, applicants need to determine whether desired locations are City property or within the right of way. Desired locations could alsobe 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.

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. The Arts Commission and its Public Art Advisory Panel often make recommendations to the applicant to strengthen their projects, including ideas like:

Maintenance, to ensure projects have longer life spans;
Avoiding damage from maintenance equipment and vandalism;
Addressing public safety and handicapped accessibility;
Supporting artist's copyrights;
Developing projects at a scale that is doable.

Check out The Placemaking Hub!

It's a one-stop-shop with information on how communities and neighborhoods can enhance and beautify their streets and public spaces.

Public Art Permits for 2017

1) Paint The Pavement Projects

These projects allow artistic paintings on sidewalks and residential street intersections! Apply for these projects during the first two application cycles for the best results. The third application cycle is open to these applications, however be aware of the annual fall clean sweeps.

Paint the Pavement Instructions

2) Utility Box Projects

Most city-owned utility boxes operate traffic signals and are eligible for art. There are two options for placing art on utility boxes: Artist-Designed Utility Boxes AND Minneapolis Art Wraps.

Artist-Designed Utility Boxes:

These projects allow commissioned artists to create custom designs for utility boxes. Apply for these projects during any of the three application cycles.

Custom Utility Box Instructions

Minneapolis Art Wraps:

This is the quick and easy way to place art on utility boxes! Choose from one of the 12 pre-approved art wrap designs created by local artists. Applications are accepted ALL YEAR and are not limited to the three application cycles.

Art Wrap Instructions

3) Other Art Projects!

Do you have a different idea? 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 projects may be proposed for City property (like a City-owned building or lot), OR within the city's Right of Way. Apply for these projects in any of the three application cycles!

Art Permit Instructions

Application Cycles

All projects must submit applications during one of the three application cycles!

(Does NOT include the Art Wrap option for Utility Boxes)


Art Permit Timeline 2017	Cycle 1	Cycle 2	Cycle 3
Pre-Application Due	April 7	June 9	August 11
Confirmation of Eligible Site	April 21	June 23	August 25
Arts commission Application Due	April 26	June 28	August 30
Public Art Advisory Panel Meeting	May 3	July 5	September 6
Arts Commission Meeting	May 17	July 19	September 20
Applicant Notified	May 18	July 20	September 21
Encroachment Permit Materials Due	May 19	July 21	September 22
Applicant Receives Permit	June 2	August 4	October 6
Earliest Start Date	June 3	August 5	October 7

Application Forms, Examples, and Helpful Tools!

Examples:

Pre-Application Example

Utility box pre-application example

Letter of Support Example

VARA artist waiver

Final design example

Scale rendering & context photo example

Certificate of general liability example

Letter of Credit Example

Helpful Tools:

Check the locations eligibility

Check and see if your location is in the Right of Way! This is also a helpful tool to create maps or the pre-application!

https://gis.hennepin.us/property/map/

Make sure your location is not due for construction soon! Check here:

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/cip/index.htm

Marked roads are NOT eligible for Paint the Pavement; also make sure your intersection isn't leading to a marked road!

state road map

Most of the eligible utility boxes are located on the corners of signalized intersections, here's a map of the City's traffic signals, check it out.

traffic signals map

Need Help Finding a Neighborhood Organization or Special Service District?