West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Population: 110,222
Type of Requirement: Ordinance

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Contact Information

Physical Address:
Department of Public Art and Culture
401 Clematis Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Main Contact:
Sybille Welter, Art in Public Places Coordinator
Email Sybille | 561.822.1521

Program Summary

The Code/ Policy establishes that all private development projects, whether new construction or remodeling, where construction costs are equal to or greater than seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) are subject to a mandatory public art requirement. Single-family residences not developed as a planned development are not subject to the requirement. Developments may satisfy the requirement in one of the following manners:

  • Submitting documentation evidencing the escrow of at minimum one percent (1%) of the total construction costs, but not exceeding two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), for a work of art or historic or cultural elements to be placed in a publicly visible area of the development. The art shall be of a value no less than nine-tenths of a percent (0.9%) of the total construction costs. Maintenance and conservation of the artwork is the responsibility of the property owner. In the event of destruction or casualty to the artwork, the property owner shall repair or replace the artwork with art equal in value to the value of the artwork originally installed. Alternatively, developments may gift the work to a private art program.
  • Submitting documentation evidencing the escrow of less than one percent (1%) of the total construction costs, but not exceeding two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), for a work of art or  historic/ cultural elements and pay eighty percent (80%) of the balance to the art in public places fund.
  • Paying an in-lieu fee, prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, of eight-tenths of a percent (0.8%) the total construction costs, but not exceeding two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), into the Art in Public Places Fund.
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Sequence (2017). By Blessing Hancock. City of West Palm Beach Colleection. Courtesy: Robin Hill, Blessing Hancock