Local News in Brief : Arts Commission OKd

The Manhattan Beach City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to form a nine-member Cultural Arts Commission.

Commission members will make recommendations to the council regarding cultural arts projects as part of the recently approved, city-funded Endowment for the Arts Program.

Last month, the council approved the endowment in an effort to bring more culture to Manhattan Beach. Under the program, the city will spend up to $50,000 during the next two fiscal years to put art in public places and will allocate up to $100,000 during that time to a Public Arts Trust Fund.

The fund will be used to pay for art in publicly accessible areas, provide art education programs and develop cultural facilities, exhibitions and performances. Developers also are required to spend an amount equal to 0.5% of their capital improvements to put art in publicly accessible areas of their projects.

The commission will be composed of local business representatives, developers, residents, professional artists and art professionals, which include curators, historians and critics. The non-paid commissioners will serve three-year terms starting Jan. 31.

Those interested in serving on the commission can obtain applications at City Hall. Appointments will be made at the Jan. 19 City Council meeting.

The council also approved funding to hire a public arts administrator to oversee the Endowment for the Arts Program. The position will pay $25,000 for full-time work during the first year. The administrator’s position is expected to be reduced to a part-time job after the program is established.