Costly canvas: Artists say Missoula’s charge for public art is too steep

Kip Herring has yet to start his mural at the corner of Brooks and Higgins, but it’s not because he’s waiting for the muses to inspire him.

The hindrance is, in fact, due to a $750 fee the city of Missoula applies to all privately commissioned signs – be it an advertisement or a painting. “That’s been the hangup for an entire year,” he said of the delay in his “Garden City Tree of Life” mural.

But with a fee revision awaiting City Council’s approval next month, the tide could be turning in favor of Herring and other local artists.

On Wednesday, the Administration and Finance Committee unanimously approved adding to the council’s schedule a resolution to lower the fee for artists. A public hearing will be held on Monday, Aug. 24. If the council approves the resolution, there will be a distinction between regular signs and art. The fee for the latter would be reduced to $100.

By STEVE MILLER for the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/07/23/news/mtregional/news06.txt