VENTURA : City OKs Funds for Art in Public Places

The city of Ventura will spend up to $250,000 a year to place art in public buildings and parks under an ordinance approved Monday by the City Council.

The ordinance will set 2% of the city’s annual capital improvement budget for art in public places. The fund will probably range from $100,000 to $250,000 a year, said Barbara M. Harison, Ventura parks and recreation director and head of the public arts program.

The fund will be used for murals, sculptures, paintings and other artwork to enhance city-owned buildings and parks. Art will be chosen by an advisory committee appointed by the City Council.

Critics of the plan contended that the city should not spend public funds to buy art, which is subject to individual taste.

But Lorance Burdorf, an art dealer from the Palm Street Gallery in Ventura, said that even the bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra is offensive to some. “There’s always controversy surrounding art,” said Burdorf, one of 50 people in the audience supporting the ordinance.

The ordinance, which was 18 months in the making, specifically rules out spending the arts funds for any street, sewer or architectural work. It states that no more than 15% of the funds may be used for maintenance of the artwork, public education and dedications.