Public Arts Committee

Public Arts Committee - Mar 10 2026 Agenda Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM Google Meet joining info Video call link: Public Arts Committee Meeting Tuesday, March 10 · 5:00 – 6:30pm Time zone: America/New_York Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xmj-ynca-ynb Or dial: (US) +1 720-239-1977 PIN: 349 159 699# Members of the public will need to use the raise your hand feature in Google Meets to be called on and heard during the public comment portions of the agenda item. Page A. Attendance / Roll Call 1. Attendance / Roll Call 2. Attendance / Roll Call PAC Members Present Staff Present Dale, Allison (Seat 1) Marin Stephens, Community Planner Salamone, Elizabeth (Seat 2) Guests / Other: Levasseur, Deidra (Seat 3) DeVoll, Willys (Seat 4) Chillemi, Marc (Seat 5) LaPlante, James (Seat 6) Whittman, Eric (Seat 7) Lexi Leo (Youth Rep.) 3. Review and Approve Meeting Minutes 4 See attached Draft February 2nd, Meeting Minutes Draft PAC Notes 2.2.26.pdf B. Administrative Items Page 1 of 21  1. Review and Approve Meeting Minutes 2. Vote for Annual Officers Vote for Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary C. Member Update 1. Round Robin Discussion D. Old Business 1. Staff Updates 11  Board and Committee Upcoming Workshops Reminder o BCC Workshop Dates_1st Quarter.pdf  Budget Workshop Date  Update on Chapter 2 Amendments to Public Art Committee heading to City Council  Washville Project Update on Western Ave 2. Trailside Art Enclosure Update  Committee will discuss working with a local artist or using a vendor to purchase the Art Enclosure structures. E. New Business 1. Fundraising/Grant Opportunities  Committee will Maine Arts Commission community art grant  Committee will discuss crowdsource funding for public arts projects 2. Developing Supporting Public Arts Window Decal/Badges for local businesses  Committee will discuss workplan item to develop a sticker or badge for local businesses to support public art F. Public Comment Period G. Current and Future Projects 1. Future Agenda H. Future Projects 1. Creation of the Public Art Map Committee map and how to promote it as a community mapping project to highlight sculpture gardens, murals, sculptures, pop up art in the community to go see. Click here to see starting list to date . 2. Discussion of Public Art Survey and action items from the survey 12 Committee will discuss the public art feedback and form and action items for this year based upon the survey. Page 2 of 21  Public Art Feedback Form Fall 2025.pdf I. Adjournment 1. Adjourn Page 3 of 21 Public Arts Committee Meeting Notes, February 2026 February 2, 2026 5:00 – 6:30pm 829 Sawyer Street, Haeuser Room and Zoom Summary of This Meeting’s Passed Motions Motion Vote Section of meeting notes Approve minutes of Unanimous B.1 January 2026 meeting and Emergency Meeting January 13 Reschedule regular Unanimous B.2 committee meetings to the first Tuesday of each month, otherwise keep time and location the same AND postpone committee officer votes to next month’s meeting (March) A. Attendance/Roll Call Member Seat Present/Absent James LaPlante Chair 4 Absent Deidra Levasseur Co-Chair 3 Present Page 4 of 21 Willys DeVoll Secretary 6 Present Allison Dale 1 Present Elizabeth Salamone 2 Present Eric Wittman 7 Present Marc Chillemi 5 Present Alexis Leo Youth Representative Present (Remote) Marin Stephens Staff Present B. Administrative Items 1. Review and Approve Meeting Minutes ●​ MOTION: Approve minutes of January 2026 meeting and Emergency Meeting January 13 ○​ Passes unanimously 2. Vote for Annual Officers ●​ James can no longer make meetings on Monday evenings due to a work conflict ●​ MOTION: Reschedule regular committee meetings to the first Tuesday of each month, otherwise keep time and location the same AND postpone committee officer votes to next month’s meeting (March). ○​ Passes unanimously C. Member Update 1. Round Robin Discussion ●​ Member: James (represented by Diedra) Page 5 of 21  ○​ James has checked in with his contact at MeCAD Sculpture and South Portland Parks and Rec about coming to one of our committee meetings ○​ The matching grant program we discussed last month has not yet been posted for 2026 D. Old Business 1. Staff Updates ●​ Board and Committee Workshops ○​ Optional trainings on January 29 (past), February 26, and March 5 ○​ Mandatory Committee Member training is scheduled for March 26, but it’s not clear if members that attended the training last fall need to attend again this cycle ●​ Article 2 updates ○​ Our suggested edits will be included in the next round of updates without further expenditure 2. Trailside Art Enclosure Discussion ●​ Updates from James via Deidra above in section C.1 ●​ Marin: we should have a plan for how to spend the money if we can’t start this project by the end of this fiscal year in June ○​ Even if we only request an extension for spending the budget E. New Business 1. 2026 Workplan Review ●​ Review of 2026 Workplan To Dos and assign committee members to tasks ●​ Updated table added here for reference, but Marin has the official version PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE GOALS AND WORKPLAN RECURRING COMMITTEE TASKS (ANNUAL EVENTS/REPORTS/ETC) Goal Background Actions Assignment Page 6 of 21  ●​ Vote should occur in Full committee, Vote for Chair, Committee votes annually January/February of beginning of the Co-Chair, and Secretary for executive positions on each year calendar year Committee ●​ Committee will revise Full committee, fall Review & Set Annual Committee sets annual goals annually as meeting (October) Goals for Committee goals for the work to appropriate accomplish throughout the calendar year ●​ Submit Annual Report Chair, end of year (due Issue Annual Report All committees must submit in December of in December) an annual report to Clerk’s calendar year Office/City Council by end of calendar year ●​ In May, begin Deidra and Liz, spring Committee Promotion at The Committee promotes discussion with Art in Art in the Park the PAC’s work and the Park to coordinate resources during the participation and annual Art in the Park possible collaboration. event ●​ Discuss options for collaborative art project SHORT-TERM GOALS (IMMEDIATE / WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR) Goal Background Actions Assignment ●​ Discuss with SMCC James and Liz Trailside Art Display The committee decided to the possibility of use funds from the budget building these displays from the City towards at cost. outdoor art display boxes ●​ Research alternatives along city walking trails. for pre-built displays. This will allow for a display ●​ Form a subcommittee of rotating artwork widely to work out a plan on accessible to the public. locations and selection We are hoping to engage policy with SMCC to have ●​ Review and vote on students help build these to subcommittee policy reduce the cost to that of ●​ Coordinate with the only materials, therefore Parks Dept on allowing for more displays. installation. Also will investigate options for purchasing pre-built displays. ●​ Purchase table skirt ●​ Table skirt: Increase Public The committee has for public events James Engagement participated in Art in the ●​ Publish the map of art ●​ Map: Marc, Eric, Park to raise awareness of on the city website. and Marin the committee’s presence. o​ Expand to include ●​ Sticker/badges: We have also sent out a free libraries and Add to future poll through the city privately owned meeting agenda newsletter. The committee art that is publicly for full committee should find other ways to visible ●​ Additional engage the community. o​ Reach out to the events: Full public via Shara to committee as Page 7 of 21 Goal Background Actions Assignment help identify public opportunities art around the city present ●​ Distribute themselves sticker/badges to local ●​ Materials for Art art-friendly businesses in the Park: to display Allison will bring ●​ Participate in at least 1 ideas back to the event/year in addition full committee for to Art in the Park the April 2026 ●​ Purchase materials for meeting annual collaborative art project for Art in the Park. ●​ Assign a member to ●​ View/attend Mahoney City Center The city is discussing view/attend meeting(s) meetings: Eric, Committee (M3C) options to convert the old to stay up to date on with backup from Engagement Mahoney Middle School to progress Deidra a multi-purpose community ●​ Assign a member to ●​ Draft letter: center. The building has an draft letter to M3C Completed auditorium that would need outlining PAC thoughts (Willys) renovations if kept, and the ●​ At least one member ●​ Attend meeting: attend Nov 25 meeting Completed new development should (Willys, Eric, and present many opportunities Marc) to put up public art such as murals and/or sculptures. MID-TERM GOALS (WITHIN THE NEXT 1-5 YEARS) Goal Background Actions Assignment ●​ Request meeting with ●​ Meet with Scott: Fundraising The city council has Scott Morelli Deidra and appropriated a small ●​ Request council James, Marc also budget for the PAC. In workshop willing to help order to fund larger ○​ Meet with projects, we would like to Scott solicit donations from the after community or sponsorships budget season from businesses, and ●​ Council pursue grant funding. workshop: No action needed until after meeting with Scott ●​ Percent for Art: City ordinance on Some municipalities have a Table until budget public art funding "Percent for Art" program to season ends collect funds from new (roughly early developments to go June) towards public art. ○​ Need to discuss Page 8 of 21 Goal Background Actions Assignment the mechanis m for instituting this kind of measure. Could potentiall y use the existing Impact Fee structure. ●​ Install public art, Willys, ASAP Western Ave. public art Use of $15k for public art in project association with Washville possibly work with Planning Board Site Plan Metro or Department Project of Public Works ●​ Collaborate with other city committees, including Bicycle-Pedestrian and Human Rights ●​ Plan and execute Full committee, ongoing Art in every district The committee believes projects for remaining that no district should be districts. left behind in the city. F. Public Comment Period ●​ No public comment G. Current and Future Projects 1. Future Agenda ●​ March meeting ○​ Stickers/badges for art-friendly businesses ○​ Contingency plan for Trailside Enclosure project ○​ Officer votes ●​ April meeting ○​ Allison’s ideas for Art in the Park materials Page 9 of 21 H. Adjournment ●​ Meeting adjourned without objection Page 10 of 21  COMMITTEE WORKSHOPS January 29th SUBMIT The Effective Facilitator WORKSHOP special guest Councilor Carter Scott IDEAS February 26th Equity Centered Engagement member of Human Rights Commission and South Portland’s Human Resources Department March 5th Canva/Social Media Strategies special guest Mayor Tipton w MARK YOUR CALENDARS SOUTH PORTLAND COMMUNITY CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM @ 5PM FOR MORE INFORMATION (207) 767-7601 jhughes@southporland.gov Page 11 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Public Art Feedback Form 113 responses Publish analytics What kind of public art do you find most appealing? Check all that apply. Copy 112 responses Murals/visual arts 105 (93.8%) 105 (93.8%) Sculptures 75 (67%) 75 (67%) Interactive installations/pl… 45 (40.2%) 45 (40.2%) Light or digital installations 27 (24.1%) 27 (24.1%) Temporary art exhibitions… 46 (41.1%) 46 (41.1%) Performance art 26 (23.2%) 26 (23.2%) Musical performances/co… 71 (63.4%) 71 (63.4%) 0 50 100 150 Which locations in the city do you think would benefit most from new Copy public art? Check all that apply. 112 responses Downtown areas 87 (77.7%) 87 (77.7%) Parks and green spaces 91 (81.3%) 91 (81.3%) Public transportation hubs 54 (48.2%) 54 (48.2%) Neighborhood communit… 63 (56.3%) 63 (56.3%) Commercial districts 54 (48.2%) 54 (48.2%) Waterfront areas 68 (60.7%) 68 (60.7%) Underpasses/Overpasses 59 (52.7%) 59 (52.7%) 0 25 50 75 100 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 12 1/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form What themes or messages would you like to see reflected in public art? Copy Check all that apply. 113 responses Local history or heritage 80 (70.8%) 80 (70.8%) Nature and the environ… 96 (85%) 96 (85%) Youth and future 47 (41.6%) 47 (41.6%) Celebrating Different C… 65 (57.5%) 65 (57.5%) Community pride 54 (47.8%) 54 (47.8%) 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Art for arts sake - could… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Disability Pride! 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Celebrating contempor… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Art just needs to be int… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Biking, dogs, walkers,… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) create a fund and have… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Actionable community… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Whatever the artist wants 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Faces of Elders, from… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Love peace 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Willard Beach 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Nothing . Leave things… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Thought-provoking des… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) Good quality, interestin… 1 (0.9%) 1 (0.9%) 0 25 50 75 100 Have you seen the new mural at the Mill Cove Apartment Buildings at the Copy corner of Broadway and Cottage Rd.? 113 responses Yes No Unsure 14.2% 84.1% https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 13 2/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Would you be interested in supporting more art projects in South Copy Portland by individual donations if the City of South Portland had a donation platform specifically for funding public arts projects? 113 responses Yes 54% No Maybe 8% 38.1% https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 14 3/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Do you have a specific idea for a public art project? 32 responses Film festival The railroad bridge over Broadway is in desperate need of painting, and the walls on either side of the road could use a nice mural. Sustainable water fountain/water feature; plant/floral art murals on the Broadway railroad bridge abutments More murals! Mural at boys and girls club or Art near Betsy Ross house - sculptures or a mural. legal graffiti walls Projected History Nights. Temporarily project old images, films, abstract animations onto a wall or landscape element at night. Sculpture at round-about at Willard beach Something more abstract? More fun? Less literal? Not really although the tanks along the green belt might be better disguised. I want more public art with a bolder contemporary vision Maybe Bug Light or coming into South Portland off the bridge or maybe Erskine Park . A mural of native plants that support wildlife-- which ties into Resilient Yard program. Giant rocks in Thornton Heights Sawyer Park Maybe a scuplture that doubles as a play area in parks for kids, or in Hinkley Park for dogs? I would love to see public art everywhere in our city, and even reimagine the funding sources for art. Instead of installing a standard bike rack, why not install a sculptural and functional piece? Boston has a mural crew that involves youth in the installation process. We should look to larger cities to see what works and how to consider ways to involve artful elements in all public projects. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 15 4/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Not at the moment! Would LOVE a mural on the backside of the Hannaford's in Millcreek. Also more murals visible from the green belt! To encourage more pedestrian use Sign for the Willard snack shack either a painted mural, sculptural, metal, wood, but a competition. Located on the pediment of the shack. Asking local artists in Greater Portland area to submit ideas and have residents vote on options. I like the electrical boxes in Portland that are painted by various artists. Murals on the oil tanks, community sculpture garden, bus shelters designed by local architects/designersn maybe with a design competition for the community, SoPo artist- designed bus benches Something to permanently honor and represent the fishing shacks at Fisherman's Point No Too many! Murals on oil tanks near Betsy Ross and Nutter Road I would like to see more art and community on the “other side of the tracks” I feel like this side of South Portland is forgotten in many ways https://www.thegoodofthehive.com/ More murals Ryan and Rachel Adams do great work! How about some art for the Community Center and skate park? Not yet More murals on city housing buildings. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 16 5/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Are you a resident of South Portland? Copy 113 responses Yes No 95.6% https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 17 6/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form If you are a resident, please share your neighborhood location. Click here for our larger version of our neighborhood map. 98 responses Meetinghouse Hill Willard Ocean Street Ferry Village Meeting House Hill Ocean street Country Gardens Thornton Heights Knightville Pleasantdale Loveitts Field Stanwood Park Meetinghouse Hill Ligonia Loveitt’s Field Highland Pleasentdale Sylvan sites Meadowbrook https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 18 7/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form the neighborhood map is difficult to read, even when clicking on the large version. please do better with regards to accessibility ocean street Ferry village breakwater Ocean Street / Sylvan Sites Breakwater District 1 willard beach pleasantdale Near Indy’s sandwichs Ocean Street Sunset Park Pleasantdale (T-Ledge) Near China Xpress/Amatos/Dominos area! Willard beach/meeting house hill neighborhood Border of Meetinghouse Hill and Ferry Village Lovitts field Thornton heights Cash corner Meeting House Hill Ocean St https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 19 8/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form Pleasantdale Thornton Heights Meeting house hill Between Ferry Village and Willard Loveitts Field 126 Boothby Ave Stanwood park Broadview Park Highland Actually I live in Mill Cove apartments! We LOVE IT!! THANKS!!! Broadway Ferry village Lovetts Field Meetinghouse hill This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. - Contact form owner - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy Does this form look suspicious? Report Forms https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 20 9/10 of 21 2/24/26, 5:06 PM Public Art Feedback Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16yFHt8uKEmfx91-UJI25fUuZ9nE-qcGyEWaJXf8ZWXQ/viewanalytics Page 2110/10 of 21