UPDATED: Dexter Village Council Approves Public Art Plan

Editor's note: This story has been changed to include Alpine Street as a possible candidate for public art in Dexter.

A plan to enhance the arts throughout the village of Dexter received a big boost of support Monday.

The Dexter Village Council approved a recommendation by the Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee to begin soliciting donations for public art.

The committee's recommendations include creating temporary art installations in five areas around the village this summer with an initial budget of $1,500 to secure the art along with a $200 stipend per artist to assist with locating the art to the village.

According to the plan, art would be selected by a committee comprising three Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee members, one representative from the Village Council, one representative from the village Parks and Recreation Department, one representative from the Downtown Development Authority and one representative from the Planning Commission.

"I think it's a great plan," trustee Donna Fisher said. "Anytime you can involve many of our residents (in a decision), it's a good thing because it's the taxpayers' dollars we're spending."

Trustee Jim Smith said he would like to see members of the school district as well as local clergy included in the selection process.

"You read in the news about communities selecting artwork that upsets local churches. If we include them in the participation process, I feel we could avoid those issues up front," Smith said.

Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager, said including clergy in the decision of public art would blur the line between separation of church and state.

"You can't pick someone to represent all the churches in our community," she said.

The Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee recommends temporary art locations at Mill Creek Park, the Jeffords and Main Street plaza, Peace Park, downtown Main Street near , and Alpine Street near the Dexter Farmers Market.

The committee said it will reach out to Dexter Community Schools in order to place public art on the school district's property in the future.

After the temporary art period, the plan calls for the committee to select permanent art pieces to display in Dexter at a cost of $10,000 per year, beginning in 2013. Projects will include sculptures, mosaics, historic signage, functional and furniture art and other art forms.