Arts community hails public victory

CITY HALL — Continuing to sculpt Burbank’s reputation as an art-friendly community, the City Council on Tuesday approved a change to an ordinance that will allow developers to contribute some of their budget to the Burbank Arts Education Foundation.

“We all know the importance arts education has for our children and teenagers,” Burbank resident Barbara Beckley said. “California is dead last in per-capita support of arts. This is a wonderful opportunity to take the next step to move toward the goal of continuing to provide ongoing, meaningful arts education for those in the Burbank school system.”

The original Art in Public Places ordinance required that a development project with a construction budget more than $500,000 or a multi-family residential project with a budget of at least $1.5 million contribute 1% of its revenues toward an art installation in the city, according to officials with the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department.

The public art fund has about $385,000 in its budget and is responsible for multiple art projects around the city, including the steel gazebo sculpture at McCambridge Park and “The Guardians,” a bronze sculpture depicting a Fire and Police Department officer on a granite base, according to officials with the parks department.

But, with Councilman Dave Golonski leading the charge, a change was called for at the Dec. 11 council meeting. The revised law now allows developers to recommend that half of their 1% Art in Public Places obligation go to the foundation to provide funding for the Burbank Unified School District’s Arts for All program, said Eric Hansen, director of the parks department.

The foundation, a volunteer group of parents and area professionals, was established in early 2007 and provides grants to area schools for art and music programs, said Michelle Crozier, chair of the foundation.

Last year, the foundation funded an eight-week music program at Bellarmine-Jefferson High School and other art projects at some of Burbank’s elementary, middle and high schools where principals are free to apply for grants, said Alexandra Helfrich, member of the foundation.

The idea to siphon some of the Art in Public Places money to the foundation was first broached by Golonski last year and provides businesses with options other than just funding city arts projects, Crozier said.