Artwork, perhaps $70,000 worth, wanted for Marsac Building

City Hall is preparing to seek proposals from artists to create a piece or pieces of artwork to decorate the area outside the Marsac Building, part of the overall renovation of the municipal building.

Officials set aside 1 percent of the renovation cost for artwork, with up to $70,000 available in the fund for the art. Sharon Bauman, a City Hall staffer who is involved in the discussions, said officials could issue a call for the proposals as early as the end of June.

Under that timeline, the submittals could be due in August, Bauman said, acknowledging the schedule is not finalized. Once an artist or artists are selected, they are normally given six months or so to create the artwork, she said.

Bauman briefly spoke to City Hall’s Public Art Advisory Board on Monday night about the artwork. Board members mentioned whether the money should be spent on works for several spots at the Marsac Building. One member indicated concepts should be presented before there are more talks.

In an interview, Bauman said it is not clear yet whether the artwork would entail one piece or several. Locations that are under consideration include the entryway on the southern side of the building and the small plaza on the west side of the Marsac Building, at the top of the stairway to Swede Alley.

Park City leaders have for years set aside money to put art in public spots like outside the Marsac Building, arguing that the artwork adds to the aesthetics of the community.

Examples elsewhere include a series of sculptures at the Old Town transit center, a bronzed bear seated on a bench along a walkway between Swede Alley and Main Street and several murals.

The artwork that the $70,000 could fund would complement numerous pieces that are on display inside and outside the Marsac Building.

Meanwhile, the panel on Monday night also touched on the prospects of creating a map that highlights the locations of publicly displayed art in Park City. The map perhaps could include small pictures of the pieces identifying where they are located, members said. A panel member said there are similar maps in big cities like Boston.