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Clearwater is asked to create a division to foster arts and culture and make artists feel welcome. Commissioners will discuss the plan tonight.
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2002
CLEARWATER -- Hip galleries, public art, cultural festivals and revolving exhibits.
While typical in most big cities, those features are largely missing from Clearwater.
But city leaders hope to change that.
On Monday, representatives of the Clearwater Arts! Foundation unveiled a comprehensive plan 10 months in the making meant to serve as a tool to promote arts and cultural activities.
For starters, the plan calls for a new division in city government devoted to fostering arts and culture. Another provision suggests an ordinance to guarantee private and public funding for public art.
Among the goals outlined in the 54-page plan:
Setting up a city program for public art and design.
Establishing Clearwater as an artist-friendly city.
Using cultural activities as a tool for economic development.
Promoting learning opportunities in visual, literary and performing arts.
But city officials say the plan also will help guide a review of existing municipal codes that sometimes create hassles for local artists.
Patti Spence, for instance, sees plenty of room for improvement.
Something Fishy, a gallery and art school she owns at the corner of N Fort Harrison Avenue and Cedar Street, has drawn a slew of citations for code violations. Under city code, the painted wooden fish attached to a fence behind her parking lot are not permitted. Likewise, fish decorations out front must go, officials have told her.
But the most frustrating thing for Spence is the city's definition of "earth tones," which is one of the standards used to evaluate color schemes on buildings in Clearwater.
Something Fishy is painted aqua green with pink, purple and orange trim.
For Spence, each one of those colors is an earth tone, because each exists in nature.
The city's definition is somewhat more limited.
"They say it's beige," said Spence. "In my world, every blade of grass is green and that's the color of my building."
City Manager Bill Horne said Spence's business is the sort the city would like to attract. He said her clashes with the city over colors show more work is needed.
"What we've learned is our codes are not very art-friendly," said Horne. "This cultural arts plan will help us fine-tune codes in ways that make art appreciation easier."
Spence, who has a hearing on code violations next month, said she has been frustrated so far with the city's response.
"I think it's time to make a change," she said. "I'm different in a positive way. I'm different because I'm not beige."
Clearwater boasts a major regional performing arts center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, which attracts a variety of national acts. But Pinellas County's second largest city and government seat lacks an art museum -- unlike Dunedin, its much smaller neighbor. Nor does the city have a thriving gallery scene, public art program or significant art education initiative.
The new plan was developed in response to a citizen survey that identified demand for such programs.
"I think it's a tremendous step in the right direction," said Mayor Brian Aungst. "I'm glad we're finally on our way."
City commissioners are expected to discuss the plan tonight at a 6 p.m. meeting in City Hall.
-- Jennifer Farrell can be reached at 445-4160 or farrell@sptimes.com.