DDA formalizes public‑art loan agreements; tortoise and balance beams part of summer installations
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Summary
The DDA authorized loan agreements to formalize two public‑art installations (a tortoise already installed and balance beams planned). Staff said the tortoise social‑media post reached more than 33,000 people and that loan agreements cover mounting, insurance and removal terms.
The Downtown Development Authority voted June 25 to authorize public‑art loan agreements that formalize terms for two summer installations — a recently installed tortoise sculpture and an upcoming balance‑beams piece.
Audrey, the DDA director, described the loan agreements as a standard next step after the council granted license to use public space. "We are commissioning or we are renting this work from you for this fixed period of time," she said while explaining that the agreements lay out payment timing, responsibilities for transport and removal, and insurance obligations.
Staff said the tortoise installation was completed in early June and that a social‑media post about it reached more than 33,000 users. The DDA and city will provide bases or mountings where required; artists are responsible for delivery and removal. City staff will secure fine‑art insurance and the artists will list the city as additional insured when applicable.
Why it matters: The loan agreements create a clear legal framework for temporary public art — who insures and maintains pieces, where mountings go and how the works can be used in promotion — reducing ambiguity for artists, the DDA and the city.
Board action: The board approved Resolution DDA 25‑06, authorizing Agreement DDA A 25‑0 4 and DDA A 25‑0 5 for public‑art loans. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate installation logistics for the balance beams later this week and manage insurance and inventory for the loaned artworks.