A funding plan with some artistic merit

A plan in Costa Mesa City Hall to encourage and fund public art

looks interesting after the first few brush strokes.

The idea, approved by the Planning Commission last month, would

require future developers of projects worth more than $750,000 to

donate 1% of their building costs to some sort of artistic display.

For the city that wants to be known as the City of the Arts and is

home to the Orange County Performing Arts Center, among other venues,

it seems a fitting addition to Costa Mesa’s future.

The plan, which still needs City Council approval, would allow

developers either to seek out their own artist to create an outdoor

work of art or simply put 1% of the development’s worth into a

city-controlled pool of funds. Judging by how most developers hand

money for affordable housing over to cities rather than build the

low-income homes, it is reasonable to assume that most of the money

will end up in Costa Mesa leaders’ hands.

That raises one looming fear: That like nearly every other piece

of public art -- the Copper Curtain in Thousand Oaks and, nearer to

home, Huntington Beach’s newly installed and widely criticized

Surfhenge -- the ones Costa Mesa leaders will approve will be awful.

The Cultural Arts Commission, which will be the first line of

decision-makers, would do well to tour a few of the less-than-stellar

pieces that are around.

Some critics also are certain to say that the 1% could be better

spent on other project, whether it’s road improvements or aid to

charitable organizations. But, while it is difficult to quantify,

there are plenty of anecdotal reasons for putting art in public

places.

Art offers commentary on who we are and what our society is. It

encourages thought, introspection and debate. It is, as silly as some

may find this, an important part of our lives. Costa Mesa is right to

make it a part of the city.