Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Bertha Henry
Department: County Administration Division: Cultural Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE conceptual artwork design proposal by artist Susan Narduli for Andrews Avenue Bridge in an amount not to exceed $490,000 (estimated amount of $450,000 for art, $40,000 for contingency), which is currently budgeted in the Public Art Fund the Transportation Capital Program. (Commission District 7)
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Why Action is Necessary
Part I, Chapter 1, Article V, Section 1-88.a.9. of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, requires that the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve the artist's design proposal when the art budget for the artwork portion of the capital improvement project total is $100,000 or more.
What Action Accomplishes
This action allows for the approval of the amount of funds and approval of the artwork design proposal, allowing staff to develop an agreement with the artist to finalize the design proposal and proceed with fabrication and installation of the artwork.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
November 11, 2020 (Item No. 54)
Summary Explanation/Background
BROWARD CULTURAL DIVISION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE MAINTENENCE DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board's value of cultivating community culture, arts, recreation, and life-long learning and goals relating to providing diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural, and economically viable community.
Exhibit 1 is the conceptual artwork design proposal by artist Susan Narduli for Andrews Avenue Bridge located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The functionally integrated artwork will illuminate and add visual interest to the piers and control tower of the bridge. The artwork is intended to create a landmark for Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The proposed conceptual artwork design includes lighting on the roofline of the control tower, perforated backlit metal panels attached to the piers of the bridge, and programmable animated lighting. The lights on the piers will be constantly changing to create exciting patterns based on the currents of the New River and the way the lights reflect on the water. In contrast, the lights on the control tower will shift slowly.
The lights can be preprogrammed to mark holidays or special events. The artist will further refine the lighting program and the perforated metal panel designs following meetings with community stakeholders.
The Artist Selection Panel included a City of Fort Lauderdale representative, a member of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association, a member of the Public Art & Design (PAD) Committee, an arts professional, and a County Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division representative.
Cultural Division issued a Call to Artists on January 10, 2020, which garnered 55 applicants. The artist, Susan Narduli, and her conceptual artwork design proposal were approved by the Artist Selection Panel on February 23, 2021, and by the Public Art & Design Committee on March 10, 2021. The conceptual artwork design proposal will be presented to the Broward Cultural Council at their next meeting scheduled for June 3, 2021.
Prior to selecting Susan Narduli, artist Vicki Scuri and her design were approved by the Artist Selection Panel on September 16, 2020, by the Public Art & Design Committee on October 14, 2020, by the Broward Cultural Council on November 5, 2020, and by the Board on November 11, 2020 (Item No. 54). Staff were unsuccessful at negotiating an agreement with Vicki Scuri due to the artist’s concerns about the availability of electrical infrastructure and cost of accessing the bridge piers from the water. Artist Susan Narduli has confirmed that she is able to enter into an agreement with the County and provide the artwork as designed.
Source of Additional Information
Phillip Dunlap, Director, Cultural Division, (954) 357-7456
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No additional fiscal impact. The $490,000 for the public art project is funded from pooled public art funds. A total of $250,000 is budgeted in the Public Art Trust Fund and $240,000 is budgeted in the Transportation Capital Program.