Public Art Committee

Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair Anna Berke Phoebe Cole Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewizcz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning and Urban Development Department PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE Wednesday, April 15, 2026 4:00 PM City Hall, Room 209 or Online Via Zoom 1. Zoom Meeting Information Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy. Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c- 245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov Please click the link to join the webinar: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875 International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM 2. Call to Order (4:00 pm) - Roll call 3. Approval of the March 18, 2026 Meeting Minutes, refer to Attachment A March 18, 2026 Meeting Minutes 4. Staff Communication (4:05 pm) No public comment will be taken A. Public Art Program Presenter: Sean King 1. Public art fund, refer to Attachment B 2. Collection updates a. Jewel Box Bus Shelter, refer to Attachment C. City staff has prepared a memo to outline an analysis, fiscal impact, and major findings for the Committee's consideration. Page 1  b. Union Station Mural - The City will begin discussions regarding next steps to envision the future of Portland Expo during its Housing and Economic Development Committee meeting on April 21, 2026 B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: No updates Presenter: Sean King Mayor Charles J. Loring Memorial Repair (4:10 pm), refer to Attachment D - Public 5. comment will be taken A. Action Item: The Committee will review and consider recommending that repairs proceed. Adoption of the FY26 Annual Report & FY27 Proposed Budget (4:20 pm), refer to 6. Attachment E - Public comment will be taken A. Action Item: The Portland Public Art Committee is responsible for developing and presenting an Annual Public Art Plan to the City Council, including recommendations for the use of allocated funding, program administration, conservation of the collection, and initiation of new projects. The Committee will review and consider adoption of the plan for forwarding to the City Council for acceptance. 7. Subcommittee Reports (4:30 pm) NO PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN A. Governance/Board Development (Zagaria, Buckley, Dennehy) 1. Committee chair updates B. Acquisitions Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria, Levesque) 1. Subcommittee member updates C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke, Whipple) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates D. Collection Management Subcommittee (Dennehy, Berke, Zagaria, Buckley) 1. Subcommittee member updates 2. Conservation assessment FY26 8. Project Reports A. Public art acquisition selection committee at Portland Harbor Common (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque and Zagaria) 1. Selection subcommittee updates 9. Other Business 10. Meeting Adjourns Next Meeting - April 20, 2026 Page 2  Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair Anna Berke Phoebe Cole Kelly Hrenko, City Manager appointee Justin Levesque Sarah Michniewicz, City Councilor Stephanie Motter John Whipple Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland appointee Management & Administration Sean King, Urban Designer with Planning & Urban Development Department PORTLAND PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE March 18, 2026 MINUTES 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. HYBRID (in person or online via Zoom link) City Hall – Room 209, 389 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 Due to the existence of an emergency or urgent issue the Portland Public Art Committee will conduct this meeting by remote methods/technology at the Zoom link provided below, in accordance with the requirements of 1 M.R.S. section 403-B and the City Council's Remote Participation Policy. Allow your computer to install the free zoom app to get the best meeting experience. For more information on how to use Zoom, please go to: https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/18148b5d-f26e-472f-8d2c-245db97e5c27?cache=1800 Public Public comment will be taken; written comments may be submitted to publicart@portlandmaine.gov Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/81634418875 Or One tap mobile : US: +19292056099,,81634418875# or +13017158592,,81634418875# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 816 3441 8875 International numbers available: https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/u/kcytm2arCM ------------ 1. Call to Order (4:00pm) • Roll call o Committee members present – Zagaria Buckley, Cole, Dennehy, Hrenko, Levesque, Motter, Whipple; Committee members absent – Berke, Michniewicz, Wilson • Minutes from February 18, 2026 meeting. (See Attachment) o Motion to approve (Dennehy), Second (Cole), All approved by a show of hands 2. Staff Communication (4:05pm) - No public comment will be taken A. Public Art Program Presenter: Sean King 1. Public art fund. (See Attachment) 2. Collection updates • Major Charles J. Loring Memorial (Eastern Promenade) o Committee request that Staff file police report and coordinate with service providers for a quote to repair for a future meeting. Page 3  B. Encumbrances for new acquisitions of public art: No updates Presenter: Sean King 3. Subcommittee Reports (4:08pm) - No public comment will be taken A. Governance/Board Development (Zagaria Buckley, Dennehy) 1. Committee chair updates. 2. FY26 Annual Plan & Proposed budget FY27. (See Attachment for Draft) o Committee was appreciative of PPAC chair and input from Staff to develop the upcoming Annual Plan & Budget. A final vote to recommend the Annual Plan is tentatively schedule for the April 15, 2026 meeting. Staff to prepare a City Council agenda request in advance of the start of the 2027 fiscal year on July 1, 2026. B. Acquisitions Subcommittee (Cole, Hrenko, Zagaria, Levesque) 1. Subcommittee member updates. o A liaison from the Committee shared updates about the donor’s mapping request and reminder of the Committee’s precedent to purchase signage for new acquisitions or gifts. C. Communications Subcommittee (Motter, Berke, Whipple) 1. Subcommittee members to share updates. o The Committee continue to create social media posts to attract attention to the Collection and future new acquisition at Portland Harbor Common. D. Collection Management Subcommittee (Dennehy, Berke, Zagaria Buckley) 1. Subcommittee member updates 2. Conservation assessment FY26 o Tuckerbrook Conservation is under contract and has begun to assess the Collection in coordination with Staff. 3. Collection items a. Jewel Box – Staff requested to gather information on past expenditures and coordinate with METRO for bus operations along Congress Street. o Committee requested more information about future plans from METRO and interest to engage with the artists. 4. Project Reports (4:20 pm) - Public comment will be taken A. Public art acquisition selection committee at Portland Harbor Common (Dennehy, Cole, Levesque & Zagaria) 1. Round 1 artist submission. (See Attachment for Staff memo) o Subcommittee chair introduced the artist submissions and scoring methodology based on the Committee’s Guidelines. 2. Selection committee artist recommendations for Committee discussion. o Five artists were evaluated and scored based on the Selection Panel’s recommendation. Finalist included Gabriel Frey, Isabel Catherin Kelley, and Celeste Roberge. Committee chair will follow up with finalist and coordinate with Staff for Round 2. 3. Public comment o No public comment 5. Other Business (4:50 pm) 6. Meeting adjourns – 5:15pm Page 4 FY26 - Public Art Fund (July 2025-June 2026) TOTAL PPAC Balance A Total Balance (includes FY26) $ 403,715.45 B Total Encumbrances $ 202,172.00 C Total Approved budget expenditures $ 166,000.00 Remaining Balance $ 35,543.45 Remaining Encumbrances from approved budget plans Activity Description Budget A Congress Square Public Art New Commission - Sarah Sze artist $ 176,000.00 B Bramhall Square Artwork New Commission - Chris Miller artist $ 26,172.00 Total Encumbered $ 202,172.00 Approved budget from FY25 Activity Description Budget New Commission (Portland Harbor Commons Park) C Portland Harbor Common Park from FY25 Unspent Funds $ 140,000.00 D Conservation assessment Funds approved for conservation assessment $ 12,000.00 Total New Acquisitions $ 152,000.00 F26 - Proposed Budget Breakdown Activity Description Proposed FY26 Budget Current Budget Balance To cover the five-year Collection conservation assessment, lighting assessment and complete Conservation and Maintenance conservation projects identified as highest priority $ 10,000 $ 10,000.00 To cover repairs, theft, relocation, Community Art Contingency Fund grant, plaque purchase, etc. $ 5,000 $ (3,505.60) Community Artwork grants To contribute to a community artwork project(s) $ 5,000 $ 5,000.00 New public artwork acquisitions (Portland Harbor New Artwork Commons Park + Artists Stipend) $ 30,000 $ 16,000.00 Total FY26 Budget $ 50,000 $ 27,494.40 FY26 Expenses Funding Source Total (PAID) Project Notes CBE Contingency $ 3,560.00 Lights and conduit installation at Rustle Dyptich Port City Glass Contingency $ 3,505.60 Emergency replacement of Jewel Box glass (qt 4) Portland Glass Contingency $ 1,440.00 Broken glass at Jewel Box, qt1 Subtotal Expenses $ 8,505.60 FY25 Encumbrances Funding Source Total (UNPAID) Action Contract finalized, prioritize conservation of Tuckerbrook Conservation LLC Conservation assessment for Collection $ 12,000.00 Collection Page 5 City of Portland | Planning & Urban Development Dept. Sean King, Urban Designer To: Portland Public Art Committee Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair MEETING DATE April 10, 2026 AGENDA ITEM Agenda Item #3.A.2.a - Jewel Box bus shelter PURPOSE To evaluate options for the Jewel Box bus shelter located at Congress Street and Center Street, including the relocation, repair, or deaccessioning and removal of the shelter from the Public Art collection COMMITTEE WORK PLAN/GOAL ALIGNMENT This evaluation aligns with the Collection Management Subcommittee’s specific goals in FY26, as outlined in the FY25 Annual plan - to conduct a conservation assessment of the public art collection to evaluate and prioritize future conservation projects that ensure high-quality maintenance with cost-effective solutions. BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS The Portland Public Art Committee commissioned artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan in 2003 to design, fabricate and install a new artwork entitled Jewel Box. The artwork was installed in 2004 and is constructed of cast iron panels, steel supports, tempered glass panels, wooden seating and aluminum roofing on an elevated concrete fitting. There are several design elements, such as a solid roof, perimeter base without ventilation, four-wall structure and continuous bench seating, that may contribute to a lack of visibility, leading to issues of vandalism and loitering, that the City continues to address daily. The Portland Public Art Committee has provided public art funds to conserve and remediate issues of vandalism since 2005, with a summary of such expenditures listed below: Maintenance description Year Funds used (Public art, others) Graffiti (Acid) 2005 $465.66 (Police dept replaced with insurance) Graffiti (Acid) 2006 $931.32 (Police dept replaced) 1 Page 6  Conservation treatment (Protective film, painting, 2016 $4,576 (Public art fund) corrosion repair) Conservation priority, Part 1 (Corrosion, structural 2019 $17,000 (Public art fund) repair, wax coating, glass replacement) Conservation priority, Part 2 (Bench, Cast iron 2020 $5,269.88 (Public art fund) repair) Graffiti (Acid) 2023 - glass replacement, quantity 1 2023 $1,796.29 Graffiti (Acid) 2024 - glass replacement, quantity 2 2024 $2,023.90 Graffiti (Acid) 2026 - glass replacement, quantity 4 2026 $3,505.60 Broken glass 2026 - glass replacement, quantity 1 2026 $1,440.00 Total expenditures for maintenance and damages $35,611.67 *Total expenditures spent in FY2026 *($4,945.6) This particular bus shelter location receives the second-highest ridership within the METRO system and is under consideration as a future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stop. City staff are presenting the following options for initial discussion and consideration by the Public Art Committee: 1.​ Relocate the Jewel Box, in coordination with the artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan, to an appropriate public location elsewhere in the City, to be determined. The cost of relocation would need to be established to assess feasibility. This option would require review and approval by the Committee and the City Council. METRO would provide a replacement bus shelter. 2.​ Repair the Jewel Box based on priorities outlined in the latest conservation assessment. 3.​ Deaccessioning of the Jewel Box to remove the artwork from the City’s Collection. METRO would provide a replacement bus shelter. FISCAL IMPACT All options would require the use of public art funds, whether to remove the Jewel Box, relocate it, or continue annual maintenance and repair due to vandalism. Based on Committee deliberations at the April 15 meeting, staff will work to develop cost estimates for the various options under consideration. CONCLUSION(S) 2 Page 7 The Public Art Committee is tasked with overseeing the maintenance, care and repair of the public art collection and the Public Art Guidelines outline a maintenance policy designed to ensure that public artwork lasts 20 years or more. This item is for discussion only. PRIOR COMMITTEE REVIEW ●​ No prior committee review of this item. PREPARED BY Sean King Matt Grooms, AICP Urban Designer Deputy-Director Planning & Urban Development Planning & Urban Development ATTACHMENTS Attachment A -Artwork construction drawings and documents, 2004 ​ 3 Page 8 City of Portland | Planning & Urban Development Dept. Sean King, Urban Designer To: Portland Public Art Committee Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair MEETING DATE April 10, 2026 AGENDA ITEM Agenda Item #4 - Major Charles J. Loring Memorial Park PURPOSE To evaluate the use of public art funds to repair one of the etched granite sentinel columns in the Major Charles J. Loring Memorial Park, located at Eastern Prom roadway at North Street. COMMITTEE WORK PLAN/GOAL ALIGNMENT The Public Art Committee is tasked with overseeing the maintenance, care and repair of the public art collection as outlined under the City’s Land Use Code, Chapter 14, Article 20 Public Art Program. BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS City staff were made aware on March 10, 2026, of an incident involving one of the etched granite sentinel columns and a protective boulder located within the circular landscape areas of Major Charles J. Loring Memorial Park. It appears that a vehicle displaced the protective boulder by approximately 20 feet and struck the granite column off-axis. No responsible party was identified at the scene, and the granite elements remain out of alignment. Staff have filed a police report regarding the incident. City Staff requested an estimate and scope of work from Maine Stone Scapes to evaluate the damage. An estimated cost of $3,000 includes the scope of work to excavate, straighten, and reposition the affected granite elements. Staff from Planning & Urban Development, Parks, Recreation & Facilities, and the Department of Public Works are working collaboratively to explore additional traffic calming measures due to the frequency of vehicle incidents at this location. FISCAL IMPACT A total cost of $3,000. CONCLUSION(S) Staff recommends that the Committee use public art funds to proceed with repairs. PRIOR COMMITTEE REVIEW 1 Page 9 None PREPARED BY Sean King Urban Designer Planning & Urban Development ATTACHMENTS Attachment A - Photographs Attachment B - Estimate from Maine Stonescapes​ 2 Page 10 I. Letter from the Committee Chair Saturday, February 21, 2026 To the City Council of Portland: Fiscal Year 2026 was a year of goal-setting, gratitude, and movement for the Portland Public Art Committee. As we look toward FY27, we consider how the Committee can enhance communication about its mission, identify new opportunities for public and artistic engagement, and practice care for both our community and our collection. The Committee is proud to celebrate several successes from the past fiscal year, all of which were made possible through our successful collaboration with the public and with our partners in local government. With the help of the Parks Department, we replaced the lighting at Rustle Diptych II, allowing our City to resume enjoying this striking piece at night. We were thrilled at the City Council’s adoption of the Committee’s recommendation to accept the proposed Italian Legacy Project from Portland’s Italian American Community. We are grateful to our liaisons in the Planning Department, especially Kevin Kraft, who assisted the committee in project prioritiz­ation based on our internally articulated goals, and Sean King, whose indefatigable, ongoing support enhances our records, communication, and efficiency. As the Committee closes out FY26, we are excited to commission a new work for Portland Harbor Common. The response to the Committee’s RFQ exceeded all expectations, with 97 eligible submissions. We look forward to selecting and working with an artist as the new piece and park take shape together, informing one another. We are mindful of our ongoing responsibility to curate. In contemporary connotation, to curate is often synonymous with selecting, purposefully placing, and acquiring. And while those are indeed some of our functions, I see the committee’s charge as far more reflective of the verb’s Latin root, curare, which means “to care for.” In our outreach and maintenance, we embody what it means to care for our City’s collection. We will implement this mandate in FY27 through concrete actions, such as undertaking a comprehensive conservation assessment of the collection, which will guide our future maintenance priorities and help set our FY28 budget. Simultaneously, we are attentive to the ways that care manifests in unexpected acts, such as the aforementioned commission of a new work for Portland Harbor Common. The Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 11  2 acquisition’s placement in the new park, informed by the India Street Sustainable Neighborhood Plan, will strengthen the community and articulate an aspect of our City’s identity that this particular location embodies. The achievement of these goals through this commission, in turn, will reverberate throughout the collection. For the Committee, care work is done through objects as our primary medium, but the beneficiary of our labor is the average Portland citizen. As stewards of public art, we demonstrate our care for our community through outreach around the collection, commissions, and acquisitions that celebrate Portland’s past, present, and future, as well as through conservation efforts. Our ongoing prioritization of the collection’s stewardship through these avenues will expand in FY27 to include examining how the Committee can be more effective in its outreach. We hope to foster the public’s curiosity not only about what we do but also about the art that surrounds us, contributing to Portland’s identity as a cultural destination and embodying the aspects of our City worth witnessing, preserving, and celebrating. The Portland Public Art Committee is thrilled to enact our care for the City through our service through 2027 and beyond. We look forward to any questions regarding the detailed annual plan and report, and to continuing to work together to strengthen our City’s collection of artwork. We are humbled by the opportunity to care for the collection and, by proxy, our community. With gratitude for your time and attention to this report and plan, Kat Zagaria Buckley Chair Portland Public Art Committee Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 12  3 II. Overview In April 2000, the City Council established the Portland Public Art Program to preserve, restore, and enhance the City’s public art collection. The Portland Public Art Committee (PPAC) is tasked with commissioning art that engages the surrounding environment to foster a sense of place by expressing the spirit, values, and visions of Portland through public art. The public art collection currently contains 60 permanent pieces installed throughout Portland and 1 long-term loan. Details on the collection can be viewed on the Public Art website (https://www.publicartportland.org/). The collection comprises works of both historical significance, dating from the nineteenth century, and contemporary pieces reflecting Portland’s diversity and spirit. The PPAC administers the Portland Public Art Program; the Committee’s responsibilities are outlined in the City’s Land Use Code, Chapter 14, Article 20 Public Art Program. The Committee refers to the Guidelines for the Public Art Ordinance (Volume 2, Number 1 – revised 2021) for direction in administering their responsibilities. The Portland Public Art Committee is responsible for the following: ● Develop and present an Annual Public Art Plan to the City Council, which includes recommendations for the use of allocated CIP funding, program administration, conservation of the collection, and initiation of new projects. ● Provide recommendations to the City Council regarding proposed gifts to the collection. ● Seek donations to fulfill Committee responsibilities in the case that CIP funding is insufficient. ● Recommend appropriate locations for the installation of public art; ● Promote public awareness and engagement with the collection. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 13  4 III. Administrative Updates A. Committee members during fiscal year 2026 (FY26) between July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: ● Anna Berke, Chair until January 21, 2026. ● Kat Zagaria Buckley, Chair as of January 21, 2026. ● Sharon Dennehy, Vice-Chair. ● Phoebe Cole ● Alison Gibbs, Seat 1 until February 18, 2026 ● Kelly Hrenko, City Manager’s Appointee ● Justin Levesque ● Stephanie Motter ● Sarah Michniewicz, City Council Representative ● John Whipple ● Ronnie Wilson, Creative Portland Appointee City Staff Administration: ● Sean King, Urban Designer, Planning and Urban Development Department IV. Subcommittees A. Governance Subcommittee: The Governance Subcommittee included Anna Berke (Chair) from July 1, 2025 – January 21, 2026. Upon Anna’s stepping down from the Chair role, the Committee confirmed Kat Zagaria Buckley as the new Chair (on January 21, 2026). Since then, Kat has served as Committee Chair and as Chair of the Governance subcommittee. Sharon Dennehy has served as Vice Chair of the Committee and Governance subcommittee since July 1, 2024, and continues in this role. The Committee welcomed Justin Levesque’s appointment. The Committee also welcomed the reappointment of members Phoebe Cole, Anna Berke, and Kat Zagaria Buckley to new three-year terms. B. Acquisitions Subcommittee The Acquisitions Subcommittee includes committee members Phoebe Cole, Kelly Hrenko, and Kat Zagaria Buckley. The Acquisitions Subcommittee received no inquiries regarding potential new works of public art during FY26. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 14  5 City Council voted to accept the proposed public art gift on July 14, 2025, Council order 3/25-26. On July 28, 2025, the Portland Water District approved the public easement and maintenance agreement during a Board of Trustees hearing for the proposed public art gift from Judith Kendrick and Jim DiBiase, representatives of the Italian American Community. The Portland Public Art Committee was pleased to recommend this community- initiated sculpture, a cohesive and practical work of enduring material. Bridging historical, locational, and pictorial resonances, The Italian Legacy Project will enable generations of Portlanders, past and present, to understand the significance of its site at India & Fore Streets. The monument reflects on how the movement of elements and people contributes to the creation of place, and how paths carved in the past create the support upon which we stand today. Above all, the Project honors the Italian community’s intertwinement with the physical and cultural foundations of our City. In FY26, the Subcommittee remained focused on stewarding the Council-approved acquisition from the Italian American Community. C. Communications Subcommittee: The Communications Subcommittee includes committee members Stephanie Motter, Anna Berke, Alison Gibbs (Jul ‘25 – Jan ‘26) and John Whipple (Feb ‘26 - current). In FY26 Accomplishments, the Subcommittee assisted with promoting the open call for artists for the Harbor Commons Park art commission. Promotions included social media posts and an insert in the Creative Portland February newsletter. Additionally, the Subcommittee’s efforts resulted in notably positive results for the Committee’s Instagram posts: ● Views: 8,213 ● Reach: 504 ● Content Interactions: 332 ● Profile Visits: 262 ● 95 follows D. Collections Management The Collection Management Subcommittee includes committee members Sharon Dennehy, Kat Zagaria Buckley, Alison Gibbs (Jul ‘25 – Jan ‘26), and Anna Berke. In FY26, the Collection Management Subcommittee researched conservation firms in Maine/New England/New York for the purpose of receiving bids for an assessment of the City of Portland’s 60 works of public art. The Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 15  6 Subcommittee narrowed the choices to firms specializing in this type of assessment of artworks made from varied materials and created an RFP with requirements for the assessments. Additionally, the Subcommittee updated the list of works spreadsheet with all completed repairs and maintenance. RFPs were sent to three firms, and two responded. The winning bid was from Ron Harvey of Tuckerbrook Conservation LLC, whose company offers conservation consulting, treatment, teaching, management, and assessment of collection care, with forty-eight years of experience. Ron Harvey performed restoration on the City’s Collection by artist Bernard Langlais in 2024. He will create a plan for future maintenance for the Committee’s consideration. His current proposal outlines 9-10 days to complete at $1,200/day, for an estimate of $10,800, with a maximum of $12,000. The wider Committee voted to award the bid to Tuckerbrook Conservation and approved the expenditure not to exceed $12,000. E. Special project: Portland Harbor Common The Portland Harbor Common Subcommittee includes members Sharon Dennehy, Kat Zagaria Buckley, Justin Levesque, and Phoebe Cole. This subcommittee was charged with creating an RFQ for a new work of public art to be placed at the terminus of India and Fore Streets within the context of a new City Park. After coordinating with the City, the Subcommittee reviewed the India Street Neighborhood plan, identified conceptual and authorial gaps in our collection, and brainstormed which types of artwork might make sense for such a site. It then crafted an RFQ that focused on the intersection of history, present, and future, as well as the City’s ties to water. The RFQ’s project brief, timeliness, and project budget were reviewed and approved by the wider Public Art Committee at its October 15,2025 meeting. The RFQ was widely shared on social media and attracted 97 submissions. Artists not only from Maine and across the US submitted their qualifications, including those from states quite far from the Greater Acadia Ecoregion, such as Florida and Hawaii. Furthermore, submissions were also received from countries such as Japan and France. The enthusiastic response is a testament to the well-crafted RFQ and appropriate stipends that accompany this project, allowing the Committee to solicit bids for a truly world-class piece of public artwork. An initial review of the RFQs was completed in February 2026, 2026. The Subcommittee met again in March, when it narrowed the entries to three finalists. Those finalists will present to the Subcommittee on May 20, 2026, with the final artist selected for the project via Committee vote on June 17, 2026, at the close of FY26. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 16  7 V. Conservation & Maintenance The Public Art Program is charged with the care and maintenance of the City’s collection. Conservation and maintenance completed in FY26 included: A. Maintenance Projects: 1. Gorham Corner: The Committee reviewed a City plan to reposition the granite posts around the perimeter of the John Ford statue during the October 15, 2025, meeting. The meeting’s outcome was a recommendation to relocate the posts’ initially proposed sites. Staff shared the Committee’s recommendations with the Public Works and Parks Departments for consideration George Kelly, John Ford of winter maintenance associated with the preferred relocation of granite posts at the Statue, 1998. Located at intersection of York St and Pleasant St. Public Gorham corner. works responded with approval and acceptance of the Committee’s recommendations. 2. Jewel Box bus shelter: As of Q4 FY26, the Committee has spent $4,945, or approximately 10% of its overall budget on the maintenance of this single work. The Committee reviewed and discussed a request to use PPAC funds to replace several glass panels damaged by corrosive graffiti. Staff recommended that the Committee approve the use of existing PPAC funds of $,3,505.60 to cover the cost of glass panel replacement. The Committee approved the expenditure. Another incident occurred at the Jewel Box in January 2026, necessitating another immediate replacement of a panel at a cost of $1,440. Image of damage at Jewel The Committee is concerned about the outsized Box on January 25, 2026. cost of maintaining this one work on its budget, affecting our ability to care for other works, respond nimbly to other incidents, and plan for the future. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 17  8 3. Rustle Diptych II – The Committee approved funds during the September 17, 2025 meeting to replace two in-ground light fixtures at the base of the stone pedestal and coordinate with the Park and Public Works department to replace the underground conduit, electrical switch and sensor at the traffic pole. Image of replaced fixtures at Rustle Diptych. 4. Portland Brick Project – Some sidewalk replacements have resulted in the removal of bricks from this work. The Committee has increased its communication with City departments to inform adjacent property owners of future sidewalk replacements to ensure adequate precautions to preserve artwork bricks Ayumi Horie and Elise in the public sidewalk. For artwork bricks lost or Pepple, Portland Brick, 2015. removed due to sidewalk replacement project, the Committee is working with artist Ayumi Brick and digital Horie and is awaiting their recommendations for technology, India Street. proceeding as a possible future expenditure. VI. Acquisitions There were no new acquisitions in FY26. However, $3,000 was spent on three finalists ($1,000 ea.) for their work on a final presentation for the Portland Harbor Common RFQ. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 18  9 VII. Accomplishments in FY26 A. Projects Presented: 1. Libbytown Neighborhood – There was a formal inquiry from the Libbytown Neighborhood Association, which the Acquisitions committee is stewarding. B. USM Media Student – A University of Southern Maine Media Student presented a video project on the City of Portland Art Collection. C. Projects approved by City Council: 1. Italian Legacy Project — see additional information in Acquisitions Subcommittee, section IV.B D. New commissions: 1. Portland Harbor Common - see additional information in Special project, section IV.E E. Conservation completed: 1. Jewel Box bus shelter — see additional information in Conservation & Maintenance, section V.A.2 2. Rustle Diptych II – see additional information in Conservation & Maintenance, section V.A.3 VIII. Goals for FY27 A. Five-year vision The Committee reviews and sets priorities for the public art program to guide decision- making over the next five years. The five-year vision through 2031 includes: ● Finalize the acquisition and completion of all encumbered artworks, including Shattered Sphere by Sarah Sze in Congress Square Park, Keeper of the Picnic by Christopher Miller in Bramhall Square, The Italian Legacy Project by Giuliano Cecchinelli in collaboration with the Italian American community, and the as- of-yet-to-be-awarded RFQ for Portland Harbor Common. The first two of these artworks are contingent on the park refurbishments being completed. ● Evaluate the Guidelines for Public Art Ordinance and revise (if necessary); ● Further public education, interest, and enjoyment of public art by providing public art walks or public art guides in Portland, and to publicize and archive the collection. This includes revising the website to provide additional functions and increase traffic, increasing social media presence, and meeting with City stakeholders to reinforce the Committee’s mission. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 19  10 ● Increase donation solicitation for projects supported by the Public Art Committee, particularly for projects that enhance community engagement and identity. To solicit grant and private money for current and upcoming projects. ● Prioritize site selections based on the Public Art Committee’s commitment to locate public art more equitably throughout Portland, with a particular focus on neighborhoods with no or limited public art. o To that end: continue discussions and advancement of artwork identified in the FY25 Annual Plan/FY26 Budget Plan: ▪ Riverton Trolley Park ▪ Lyseth Moore area trails ● Expand the public art collection in outer Portland through community art projects. ● Continue to provide forums for public input, including hybrid committee meetings for both in-person and virtual participation. ● Monitor the Reimagine Franklin Street process and identify opportunities for major new artwork installations. These goals aim to cultivate a sense of identity for Portland’s citizens, one that is outward-facing, embraced by locals, and experienced by our visitors. The caliber of artwork the Committee stewards will increase the City’s visibility as a cultural destination both nationally and internationally. B. Specific goals by subcommittees in FY27 a. Communications ● Increase awareness of the Committee’s goals and how we support and expand public art in the City. ● Increase public awareness of Community Artwork Grants. ● Research ways to expand beyond digital promotion to ensure we are accessible to all City of Portland residents and visitors. With regard to the latter point, the Subcommittee is actively exploring other avenues for communicative outreach based on what we hear would be useful from citizens and artists alike. It is a Committee-wide focus in FY27. b. Collection Management ● Review and prioritize the conservation assessment, and make recommendations for repair and maintenance. Priorities will be incorporated into our FY28 budget plan. The conservation assessment supports the Subcommittee’s efforts to gather bids for the aforementioned repairs. c. Acquisitions ● The Subcommittee is stewarding an ongoing, informal inquiry from community member Alice Spencer for a proposed project with artist Daniel Minter. Committee Member Kelly Hrenko is stewarding this project, on which we hope to gain more details in FY27. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 20  11 ● The Subcommittee will continue to steward the aforementioned gift from Judith Kendrick and Jim DiBiase, representatives of the Italian American Community. o Subcommittee allocates $600 for FY27’s creation of a Public Art Collection plaque related to the above sculpture, but does not foresee additional expenditures. ● The Subcommittee continues to monitor progress related to the Portland Harbor Commons, which has its own special project subcommittee. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 21  12 IX. Proposed Budget FY27 Article 20, Section 20.4.1 Establishment of Public Art Fund of the Land Use Code details the establishment of a special revenue fund designated as the Public Art Fund in the City treasury from which expenditures may be made in accordance with the Public Art Ordinance. Section 20.4.2 City-funded projects of the Land Use Code specifies that a percentage of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) shall be calculated and appropriated annually to the Portland Public Art Fund. The annual appropriation shall be .5% of the total annual CIP. Table 1 – Summary of Encumbered Funds from previously approved Public Art Committee budget plans Activity Description Budget A Congress Square Public Art Funds approved in FY15 $176,000 B Bramhall Square Artwork Funds approved in FY20 $26,172 C Portland Harbor Common Funds approved in FY26 $154,000 (park renaming pending) D Conservation assessment Funds approved in FY26 $12,000 Total Encumbered Funds $368,172 Remaining Balance FY26 has seen the Portland Public Art Committee allocate its funds in accordance with its Committee goals. The PPAC Art Fund currently has $403,715 in unspent funds from prior years. Of this amount, $368,172 (Table 1) is already encumbered across four previously committed acquisitions: Sarah Sze’s project at Congress Square Park, Chris Miller’s Bramhall Square commission, the new commission for Portland Harbor Common, and the Committee’s conservation assessment which is currently underway. These latter two activities are new as of FY26. Mindful of the importance of commissioning new artwork for the City’s collection, the Committee decided to allocate a significant portion of its combined unspent funds and budget towards this important, identity-articulating project at Portland Harbor Common. Finally, its conservation assessment is based on the total amount quoted from the Conservation firm selected, as outlined in Section II.B.4. Given the Committee’s significant, already-encumbered acquisition plans for FY26, its proposed budget focuses on completing the aforementioned projects and reserving funds for the conservation and maintenance associated with the conservation assessment. Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 22  13 Table 2 – Recommended budget for unspent public art funds Total Carried Over Public Art Description Budget Funds Encumbered funds See above $368,172 Available public art funds Unspent funds $35,543 Activity Description Budget New artwork commissions Anticipated signage costs: $600 Italian Legacy Project Conservation and Maintenance For FY28 conservation $34,943 priorities of the Collection Proposed Budget FY27 (July 1, 2026 – June 31, 2027) In addition to the proposed plan to utilize unspent funds rolled over from prior fiscal years, described above, the Committee has developed the following budget for FY27. For FY27, $50,000 is allocated to the Public Art Fund. The proposed use of these funds is outlined in Table 3 below. Note that the FY27 proposed budget allocates $0 to conservation and maintenance. This is because the Committee has elected to use $34,943 in unspent funds (Table 2) for conservation and maintenance, allowing the FY27 allocation of $50,000 to be directed to other line items. Table 3 – Proposed budget FY27 (July 1, 2026 – June 31, 2027) Activity Description Budget A Conservation and maintenance To support conservation and $0 maintenance priorities of the Collection. B Contingency fund To cover unplanned minor repairs, $5,000 theft, replacement, and plaque purchases. C Community Artwork Grants To contribute to a community $5,000 artwork project(s). D New Artwork Commissions To advance new artwork $40,000 commissions at Riverton Trolley Park and Lyseth Moore area trails as outlined in the FY25 Annual Plan/FY26 Budget Plan. Total FY27 Budget $50,000 Attachments Attachment A – Portland Harbor Common RFQ Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report & Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Plan Page 23