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File Number: 19-411 City Council-appropriated funds from across two fiscal years toward commissioning a significant sculpture or other work of public art that could be installed in a prominent public location. Before selecting the location for the art, members of the Commission conducted site visits at various locations throughout the City, including all of the potential sites identified in the Public Art Master Plan. That list of sites for this project was then winnowed and presented to the whole Arts Commission for its consideration in 2018. A number of variables were considered in the site selection process. First and foremost, because the art work would be paid for using City funds, the underlying property would need to be owned and maintained by the City. In addition, the Commission felt that the location should be one that is centrally located and frequently visited by a broad cross-section of the public, enabling residents from across the whole City to benefit. Ultimately, the Arts Commission selected the grassy courtyard area in front of the Main Library as its preferred location for installation, following consultation with Library staff. This location was recommended by the Commission because it most closely met the criteria above. The Arts Commission has also discussed commissioning additional public art in other locations throughout San Leandro neighborhoods in the future, consistent with recommendations outlined in the Public Art Master Plan. Concurrent with its process to identify a location for the art work, the Commission also launched a competitive process to identify an artist with whom a contract could be established for the development and installation of the artwork. With the assistance of an arts consultant, artworks from 16 artists from across the United States with experience developing public art for government entities were presented to a committee of the Arts Commission. From that list, a sub-set of finalists was identified and presented to the entire Arts Commission at a publicly-noticed meeting for its review and consideration using a numerical evaluation and points-allocation based on various objective scoring criteria. Mildred Howard scored the highest number of points. A summary of Ms. Howard’s qualifications and experience is provided below. Although the specific details of the art are yet to be finalized, it is currently envisioned to be a bronze sculpture, which is a type of art that Ms. Howard specializes in and has significant experience developing. If the City Council approves the contract, Ms. Howard would be tasked by contract to present draft designs to the Arts Commission for its review and feedback at future publicly-noticed Arts Commission meetings. The Arts Commission is also seeking delegated authority from the City Council to select and authorize the final design that is developed by the artist. About Mildred Howard Mildred Howard is a local Bay Area artist who grew up in Berkeley. She has a strong track record of developing significant works of art in prominent locations across the country. Known for her sculptural installations and mixed-media assemblage work, Howard received her MFA from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, CA. In 2015 she received the Lee Krasner Award, in recognition of a lifetime of artistic achievement. She has also been the recipient of the Nancy Graves Grant for Visual Artists (2017), the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award (2004/05), a fellowship from the California Arts Council (2003), the Adeline Kent Award from San Francisco Art Institute (1991), and, most recently, the Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts and the Douglas G. Page 3 City of San Leandro Printed on 7/9/2019 504