Look mom, I grabbed some granite countertop scraps, stacked them on top of each other and presto – I’m a fricking artist!
But you won’t see SculptureYawn mention public funding in their brochure. After a press release appeared on the Gargoyle Leader’s website last month saying SW doesn’t take public money, I have been prodding the Gargoyle to do a story about the organization’s funding. I have been doing some digging myself to.
According to their brochure the city now purchases the award sculptures through a grant from the Sheldon F. Reese Foundation a locally based charity organization. The SF Area Community Foundation and the SD Arts council also donated to SW (both receive partial tax dollars for their annual budget). What was missing from the brochure was how much, or that the city even gives a penny to SW.
Then I stumbled upon this. Buried under the Planning Services CIP budget were a couple of line items that I found interesting;
Planning & Building Services
113025 SCULPTURE WALKÂ Â Budget: Â 15,000 Expensed: 15,000
Not sure what the money is spent on specifically (insurance?), but it is pretty obvious that city spent $15,000 this year on SW (which is down about $10,000 from last year).
Now while some of you may know, I am all for public art, but think it should be paid for through private donations. I think tax dollars spent on the arts should go 100% into education. Since public art is objective, I don’t think it is a wise use of tax dollars. That being said, I think a majority of Sioux Falls residents probably disagree with me, and don’t have a problem with the city spending $15,000 on SW this year, I just find it curious that SW wouldn’t mention it in a brochure that is dedicated to thanking their sponsors. As a taxpayer, it would have been nice to be recognized.
I’d guess your correct on Insurance being the big item, next being some of promo items. To be reposible for $1 mil or so of Art all summer is spendy. We get that back quick by all the folks who come down to see it, and buy lunch, shop etc.
A few or the artists have commented on how unique it is for a city like SF to sponsor something like this, especially in tmies like these.
Like I said, I think most people are in the boat with you on not having a problem with spending public money on the project, but why lie or mislead about it? Dumb.
I think politicians lie out of habit.
…and I agree 100% in full disclosure if and when tax dollars are used. EVERY where and EVERY time tax dollars are used for ANY thing.
But, that said, we thoroughly enjoy the sculpture walk each year and it’s one of the first things we take visiting friends and relatives to see when they visit.
Randall-
The politicians are not the ones misleading about SW. It’s the organization which is registered as a non-profit. Me and the director got into a tussle a few years back, and ever since then he keeps trying to downplay public money into SW because 1) it makes him look good 2) he doesn’t have to be accountable to the public. I loathe the gentleman. I have never met someone so arrogant in my entire life. I am amazed he can pull the event off each year. Of course it is not too hard to pick out sculptures of zoo animals and frolicking children.