Arts & Cultural Commission

Notice of Public Hearing on McCormick Park Veterans Memorial Additions

Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Sites for Art Banners

Public Art Collection PDF document 2.61 MB

Duties & Responsibilities  w Meetings   w Agendas & Minutes   w Membership   w 5-Year Plan
Guidelines for Public Art Proposals   w Public Art Proposal Application   w Request for Proposals w Events  w Press Releases

The St. Helens Arts & Cultural Commission was created by Ordinance No. 2921, as amended, and became effective on October 15, 2004. 

The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are to

• encourage opportunities for recognition of art and culture in the City of St. Helens.

• provide coordination and communication among groups and individuals engaged in art and cultural activities.

• identify funding sources and help to secure such funding as necessary to promote art and cultural activities in the City of St. Helens.

• identify groups and organizations which could bring art and cultural activities and enrichment to the City of St. Helens.

• provide a liaison and recommendations to the City Council and other City commissions and boards regarding projects in the five year plan and other approved visual art projects.

• development of a five year plan for art and cultural activities in the City of St. Helens, subject to approval by the City Council.  The Plan shall include, but not be limited to, proposed capital improvement projects for public art.

Meetings

The Commission generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall,  located at 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, Plaza Entrance.

For a list of agendas and minutes, please click here.

Current Membership

The City and Commission welcome your input regarding matters of art and cultural activities on public property.  Please feel free to contact any or all of the members to provide input and suggestions.  Your comments are appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering as a member of the Arts & Cultural Commission, please contact Mayor Randy Peterson at (503)397-2402 or by email at randyp@ci.st-helens.or.us.  An application for participation in a City advisory board is available by clicking here.  Please complete an application and submit to City Hall, P.O. Box 278, St. Helens, OR  97051.

News

Bike racks

In conjunction with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission, the Arts Commission is in the planning stages for designing and building the first of a series of bicycle racks to be placed around town.  Over the next few months the Commission will seek design ideas for the first series of racks. this project will begin in Fiscal Year 10-11, starting July 1, 2010.

Gallery Corridor project        Updated 4-29-10

Banner project, phase I: The Commission has selected two artists to complete banners for the first phase of the Gallery Corridor project: Vicki Lynn Wilson and Zoe Bacon of Portland.

Bacon's contribution to the banner project is a water scene with waves and a sail boat, the sun and birds, including a spinner giving movement to a portion of the banner. She has several pieces in private collections, including a bench titled "Waterways" located at the Senior Center, which is part of the City's Public Arts Collection.

Wilson's banner is titled "23 Canoes of Peace" which refers to the origin of Warrior Rock, where, despite being met by 23 canoes full of Chinook warriors, Lt. William Broughton quickly achieved peace with the native people. The canoes are symbols of peace.

The Gallery Corridor project is designed to bring art banners to the streets of town.  Inspired by a similar project completed by the Vancouver Recreation Commission and John Braithwaite Community Centre in Vancouver BC, the Commission the project calls for artists to design and create decorative metal banners to be hung on poles in the City.  Early plans for the banners include historically important St. Helens subjects and the inclusion of a "spinner" on each banner--a small circle that will spin in the wind. Initially, commissioners plan to complete two banners, designated for Columbia Blvd., St. Helens St., or the Old Portland Rd.  The intent is to complete a few banners each year in coming years and possibly to expand the areas where banners are displayed to include the west side of St. Helens.

Banner project, phase II:  The Commission met on April 28th and opened the five banner proposals received.  They will hold a public hearing on May 6th and invite the artists and the public to come to the meeting.  Click here for more information and here for the RFP.

Requests for Proposals

There are no proposals out at this time.  Updated 4/29/10.