Frequently Asked Questions

Periodically the Public Art Committee seeks artists to design and construct artwork for public buildings and grounds. Follow the link to learn about art calls and to sign up to receive email notifications of future art call notifications.

Yes, as a member of the community, you're welcome to attend meetings held by the Public Art Committee. Upcoming meeting announcements are published in the Events Calendar, although the meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month. Contact the Mayor’s Office at (406) 552-6001, or email the Public Art Committee at publicart2@ci.missoula.mt.us for additional information.

- Develop a public art program that is unique to Missoula. - Increase the understanding and enjoyment of public art by Missoula residents. - Invite public participation in the interaction with public spaces. - Provide unusual and challenging employment opportunities for artists. - Encourage collaborations between artists and architects, and artists and engineers. - Support artist participation on design teams for planning public projects. - Encourage a variety of art forms: temporary and permanent, object and event, single or dispersed locals. - Spread commissions among a wide number or artists and strive for overall diversity in style, scale and intent.

The Public Art Committee is available to provide guidance to the private sector in developing a public art project. Although the Public Art Committee has no standing budget, the Committee has worked hand-in-hand with the private sector to develop public-private partnership projects.

Anyone can present a project idea to the Public Art Committee. The Committee may provide guidance in varying degrees or may vote to implement the project based on available resources.

Public Art projects are funded by the Percent for Art program. The Percent for Art Ordinance establishes that one percent (1%) of construction costs on city-owned buildings and spaces be set aside for the creation and maintenance of public art. Private donations may also be received.

The Public Art Committee has three methods of determining eligibility. All artists are invited to respond to open art calls. At times open art calls are limited to a specific area. Limited art calls are open to a limited number of artists who have been invited to participate based on their expertise in a desired area. Lastly, a completed artwork may be purchased.

The Public Art Committee establishes a selection committee that includes representation from the PAC, and when applicable, the selection committee may be comprised of representatives from City Departments, public agencies, public and/or private donors, business and/or neighborhood representatives, or a project architectural group.

The Public Art Committee endeavors to develop a collection of public art that is of the highest quality, that encompasses a broad aesthetic range reflecting the City and the minds of its citizens, improves the quality of life in the area, accessible to all individuals, and is a source of pride to all residents. The Public Art Committee seeks to develop the Percent for Art Program and the associated collections in such a way so that it is intimately integrated into the fabric of the City of Missoula and reflects a broad range of community input and involvement by artists and art professionals. The Public Art Committee is responsible for reviewing, advocating, and developing public art projects in the public domain for the City of Missoula. It develops a formal structure in which to create, develop, and maintain public art as well as further public accessibility to the arts.

An ordinance creating Chapter 2.94 of Missoula Municipal Code entitled “Public Arts” established a Percent for Art program to include works of art within certain city projects, set procedures to commission and select public art, requiring 1% of eligible construction costs of City capital improvement projects paid wholly or in part by the City of Missoula to construct or remodel any public or city building, structure, park or any portion thereof to be allocated for public art and providing a funding source for ongoing maintenance of Public Art and prescribing and procedure for deaccession of public art.

The Missoula Public Art Committee was started in 1985 by Mayor John Toole as a committee designated to review, advocate and develop public art projects in the public domain for the city of Missoula. It was reaffirmed on December 23, 2002 as a standing city committee.

The selection criteria changes with each project. In general, the Public Art Committee expects that artwork be of the highest quality in both concept and execution, while recognizing public safety and durability. The Committee encourages proposals that balance the artistic design in the artwork with the setting of the designated area. When developing proposals, artists typically consider specific themes, the design aesthetics of an associated building, the traffic flow and use of the building and/or site.

View current information, minutes, and agendas.

Preview campus art on UM's interactive web map. Select the Art theme button when you land on the page and begin viewing the artwork by clicking the icons. Look for the More Maps tab to view a complete campus map that can be downloaded or printed.

The Public Art Committee consists of nine members serving four-year terms. Members are selected because of their expertise in historical preservation, visual arts, architecture, or affiliation with a local business association or public entity. Six members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice of the Public Art Committee, two members appointed by the City Council and one member a member of the Missoula City Council.