Florida Laws for Art in Public Places

• Each state has statutes governing art displayed in public buildings. public art 2. image by mdb from Fotolia.com

  Art is a vital part of any government building; it exemplifies the culture, history and traditions of the people. Most governments have a process for choosing the art that is meant to guarantee fairness to artists and agencies. Florida's public lands and property statutes dictate how art may be displayed in public buildings and how much of the money going toward a public building may be spent on the art.

Appropriated Funds

• Up to one-half of one percent of the money appropriated for the construction of a Florida state building may be used to purchase art that was produced by a Florida artist or craftsman. The amount used for art, however, may not exceed $100,000. The art purchased with the allocated money must be hung in a public area inside the building or outside the building; it may not be hung or displayed in a private office or in any portion of the building the public does not have access to or that the public has only limited access to.

Notification of Funds

• The Florida agency that receives the funds to construct the state building must notify the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the agency that is going to use the new building that a construction project is underway that is eligible for artwork. The art may be purchased or commissioned under the provisions of Title XVIII. The Department of Management Services or other agency must determine the amount of money the project is eligible to receive and report the amount to the agency that will occupy the building and the arts council. Payments are made from the appropriated funds according to the law.

Choosing the Artisan

• The agency that will use the building will be responsible for choosing the Florida artist or craftsman whose art will be purchased or commissioned to be displayed in the building it will occupy. The selection of the artisan and the recommendation made for the purchase or commission of the work must be consistent with the art selection process outlined by the State Department; the final approval for the project depends on the method used in the art selection. The approval of the invoice for payment to the artist is the responsibility of the agency that will occupy the building.