Help choose public art for the new Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre

Ottawa - You are invited to meet the five artists or artist teams that have been short-listed in the Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre public art competition. Meet the artists, view the proposals and record your comments on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Atrium of Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive.

In keeping with the Percent for Art Policy, the City of Ottawa's Public Art Program initiated a competition for site-specific public art to be integrated into various exterior sites of the new Central Archives and Ottawa Public Library Materials Centre, to be located at Woodroffe Avenue and Tallwood Drive.

Twenty-five local artists responded to this opportunity with their submissions for the May deadline. The selection criteria for submissions included artistic excellence, experience, site integration, reflection of the profile and character of the facility, and durability.

The five finalists will present preliminary sketches, scale models or maquettes, and detailed work plans including budgets of the proposed artworks. The finalists are:

• Marie J. Coulombe
• Adrian Göllner and Joanna Swim
• Marcus Kucey Jones
• Don Maynard
• Mark Thompson

The Art Selection Committee will take the public's comments into consideration when they meet again to choose the winning proposal.

The City of Ottawa commissions local artists' works for display in public spaces. A percent of funds for municipal development projects is set aside for public art to beautify spaces and make art accessible to everyone.

For more information, please call 613-244-4261 or e-mail publicartprogram@ottawa.ca.