1% for art helps drive economy: public art program underwrites jobs, displays local history and culture.

• Author: West, Gail
• Position: Special section: BUILDING ALASKA

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One small economic driver often overlooked in the search for big dollars is the 1% for Art program, which offers artists and fabricators additional employment every year on many public projects. Through a law passed by the Alaska Legislature in 1975 and an ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly three years later, both the state and the Municipality of Anchorage are adding public art to many projects funded by public dollars.

The Alaska State Council on the Arts administers the 1% for Art program for the state, and can purchase a work of art that is to become, according to its mission statement: "a permanent part of, or placed on loan in, a building or facility owned or leased by the state that has substantial public use."

In Anchorage, Jocelyn Young, curator of public art for the Municipality's Public Works Department, said the Municipality's ordinance is based on the state law but is much more specific. "Basically, it encompasses all construction and major renovations of buildings and parks," she said. "Trails and roads aren't included, but it covers nearly everything else."

Anything with a price tag of more than $250,000 carries the art requirement of 1 percent, except for buildings without employees or that aren't used by the public, she added.

Young also said there is a separate public art committee composed of seven individuals that oversees and advises the program for each project. The makeup of each committee varies to encompass representatives of affected communities, architects, professional artists and representatives of the facilities being built.

The first piece added to the Municipality's public art collection in 1981 was a series of panels installed at Girdwood Elementary School. The panels, depicting the life and history of Girdwood, were carved by artist Robert Bursiel, a long-time resident of the community. Now, Young said, there are 445 pieces in the collection in more than 100 facilities and Young calls it "a museum without walls."

"Because of the 1% for Art program Anchorage now has many pieces by important Alaska artists who have passed away such as John Hoover and Catherine Doss," Young said, "and that's a wonderful legacy for our history and our culture."

ALASKA ARTISTS COMPETE WITH OUTSIDERS

Although Alaska artists are encouraged to participate in the program, it's not necessarily a shoo-in for them. "It's up to every committee as to whether they want to restrict the art to Alaskans or...