The city of Jacksonville is undertaking one of its largest-ever public art projects at the county courthouse downtown. The budget for adorning the new courthouse is nearly $900,000.
Big, expensive public buildings mean big budgets for art. That’s because a city ordinance mandates three-quarters of 1 percent of large-scale construction projects be earmarked for sculptures, mosaics or other works.
Cultural Council Director Tony Allegretti says that means the massive Duval County courthouse will get $866,000 worth of art. At a recent event in Hemming Park, Allegretti said a committee is preparing to put out a call to artists.
“That will be an international call. When you make that kind of investment, we’re going to really need it to be breathtaking and a destination and something really special, so we’re going far and wide with that one,” he said.
The Art in Public Places Committee is also soliciting public feedback on the project. It’s collecting people’s thoughts with the social media hashtag #CourthousePublicArt and at by email at CourthousePublicArt@CulturalCouncil.org.
