The group that oversees Longmont’s public art displays wants to bring on new members that represent viewpoints from every corner of the city.
Longmont’s Art in Public Places, or AIPP, Commission is seeking volunteers to fill two vacancies on the board adding new voices to decisions on public pieces, commission liaison for the city of Longmont, Angela Brill, said in an email.
“Many boards and board liaisons have said that they are seeking to ‘diversity’ the board,” Brill said. “Our goal as a commission is to be demographically reflective of our community make-up, as well as diverse in perspective — to be the best champions to tell Longmont’s story from any angles through many lenses in our program.”
The AIPP Commission is composed of volunteers who approve sites for public artwork, recruit volunteers to participate in selection panels, send out calls to artists both locally and nationally and work to see the process through the installation of the public artwork, according to the AIPP’s website.
The AIPP program in Longmont started in 1989 and is funded by a 1% tax on most capital improvement projects exceeding $50,000, the website states.
All boards and commissions are recruiting for openings with applications due Nov. 12.
The pandemic has hurt recruitment for the commission, which attracts volunteers “a little more organically,” Brill said. Most people learn about the AIPP through attending dedications, meeting artists at events and are generally looking for volunteer opportunities in the community, she said.
“While this is still true and word of mouth is very powerful, the number of in-person events and in-person volunteer opportunities have waned,” Brill said. “Commissioners are working in smaller task forces, meetings are nearly exclusively online which opens availability for some folks and shifts the way we can recruit for opportunities for serving on boards and commissions.”
Serving as a commissioner is ideal for people with varying artistic and creative experiences who want to serve the community, she said. The experience allows a commissioner to help shape the community through “creative placemaking efforts” and the public art program, Brill said.
AIPP seeks applicants from all walks of life, backgrounds and interests, she said. “So to diversify the commission the best we can do is keep reaching all corners of the Longmont population and ask them to consider participating in AIPP as it is both an enjoyable and meaningful way to amplify your voice.”
Commissioner Jennifer Susannah Miller said serving on the board was fun and inspiring. “It is so wonderful to be around others who care about the quality of life in Longmont, to engage with artists and artwork, and to be part of our community,” Miller, knitting and creativity teacher at Theodora’s Pearls, Fine Fibers, said via email.
For more information about the AIPP commission go to:Art in Public Places Commission | City of Longmont, Colorado (longmontcolorado.gov)
