Placing Art on City Property: Artistic Utility Boxes, 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.
2016 Deadlines
There are three application cycles and deadlines in 2016: April/May, June/July and August/September. Allow two months for this process.
Paint the Pavement Projects
Painted intersections (“Paint the Pavement”) projects are allowed on sidewalks and residential streets.
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2016 Instruction and Deadlines for Paint the Pavement Projects (pdf) 2016 Forms and Sample Templates for Paint the Pavement Projects (doc) |
Artist-Designed Utility Boxes
Most city-owned utility boxes operate traffic signals. There are two options for wrapping and painting city-owned boxes.
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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. 2016 Instructions, Deadlines and Forms for Minneapolis Arts Wraps |
 | ► | Custom Artist-Designed Utility Boxes: Neighborhoods and groups may also commission artists to do unique designs for utility boxes. There are three deadlines during 2015 for submitting these projects. 2016 Forms for Wrapping or Painting Utility Boxes with Custom Artist Designs (word doc) |
All Other Public Art Proposals
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.
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2016 Instructions and Deadlines for All Other Projects (pdf) |
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 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.
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 for strengthening their projects, including ideas for:
- Maintenance, to ensure projects have a 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.
Here is a list of helpful questions to consider in developing a public art project.
Last updated Mar 14, 2016
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