City to Begin Assembling New Arts Commission

After Traverse City commissioners voted to officially enact a new city public arts ordinance Tuesday night that will establish a funded Public Arts Trust and a seven-member Arts Commission for Traverse City, the commission turned its focus to appointing members to the new board.

The Arts Commission - which will be charged with developing a Public Art Master Plan and reviewing city art projects and proposals - will contain four representatives from local government bodies, including one each from the city commission, planning commission, parks and recreation commission and Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The three remaining Arts Commission members will be representatives from the public, who must be registered voters of the city of Traverse City and will be appointed by an ad hoc committee of the city commission. Mayor Michael Estes and Commissioners Barbara Budros and Jim Carruthers agreed last night to serve on that committee, and will meet soon to begin the process of seeking out public representatives to recommend to the city commission for approval.