August 24, 2024 – Portland Public Schools: Administrative Directive 3.30.040-AD Art and Other Visual Representations in District Buildings
Art in school spaces provides opportunity for all students to have educational experiences, and art has a positive impact on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes. The PPS permanent art collection represents a broad range of academic, social, historic, and community perspectives, and these visual representations, including communications and art in PPS buildings, are managed by Facilities and Asset Management. PPS also has a rich collection of student art on display in its schools throughout the year. PPS is, above all, an institution of education. Whether it is the District’s art collection or work created by students and staff, it should be rooted in furtherance of our educational focus and to create an environment conducive to students’ exploration of ideas, sharing of perspectives, and critical thinking necessary for the evolution into adulthood.
PPS Art
PPS enjoys a rich art collection including gifts from students, families and other community members, pieces commissioned for schools at the time of their construction, as well as from the General Services Administration through New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs. Art in schools supports the educational mission. All artwork is the property or under the stewardship of PPS and may not be sold, gifted, or reproduced.
Requests to make changes or move art in District facilities
1) All requests to make changes to existing art or to move existing art must be reviewed by the District’s Art Management Committee. Requests should be made using PPS Facilities’ project request process at least 6 months prior to the preferred change date.
2) All requests to add art to a PPS property must be reviewed by the District’s Art Management Committee. Requests should be made using PPS Facilities’ project request process at least 6 months prior to the preferred change date.
3) If an art change or addition is approved by the Art Management Committee, the requestor will then finalize the project request process which will be received by the Facilities & Asset Management (FAM) Department in order to identify and allocate resources for the work.
Murals
Because murals and other art installations are covered by the Visual Artist Rights Act of 1990 (VARA), schools and departments that wish to create a mural or other art installation on PPS property must first submit a proposal to the District’s Art Management Committee through PPS Facilities’ project request process. This requirement applies to both student, employee, and professionally commissioned murals or other art installations. The form requires:
1) Evidence of student and community engagement
2) Purpose of the proposed change to or addition of artwork
3) Evidence of original artwork
4) Specifications of the mural: size, location, material, medium, etc.
5) Artist specifications and engineering requirements
6) Signed VARA waiver
Once the proposal has been approved by the committee, the requestor will then be asked to send the final, approved PDR form to the Facilities & Asset Management (FAM) Department review and to assign a project manager. The FAM project manager will confirm approval by the Art Management Committee, then work with the school team and the artist to complete the project. The interested group must provide funding for permitting and the creation of the art work, including installation, and maintain exterior murals for two years from date of installation and in compliance with all other City of Portland permitting requirements in effect at the time of the project. For information on facility material specification and installation requirements, please see the District Standards. Requests to remove or alter existing murals must be reviewed by the District’s Art Management Committee to determine whether the work is protected by VARA and how the work can be removed. Works owned by the Federal Government may not be removed or altered.
Murals installed without the Art Management Committee approval may be subject to removal.
Posters, Art, and other Visual Representations in Buildings
At all times, students and staff in our buildings should feel safe and be provided an educational environment in which they can learn, teach, and thrive, especially when discussing or experiencing complex and difficult topics. Classrooms and other physical spaces are for teaching and learning the PPS curriculum and displaying items that are consistent with that work. Content on classroom walls, bulletin boards or otherwise displayed in the classroom must be related to the curriculum or district sponsored pursuant to 6.20.011-AD. Those spaces cannot be used for an employee’s personal expression whether that is related to a political or personal issue. All materials posted in common areas such as hallways, cafeterias, and doors, must be approved by an administrator and can only be placed in authorized areas. Unapproved materials may be taken down, and flyers may be confiscated as directed by school administrators if prior approval is not obtained. Student works and posters and other visual representations that stimulate and illustrate areas of study are welcome in buildings and classrooms. Those materials must have prior approval of the building administrator before they may be posted in common areas.
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