ROI. It’s an acronym common in the business world. It means… Return on Investment. In other words, am I getting what I paid for, and then some?
Can that same formula be applied to how our public servants invest our tax dollars? That’s the question being batted around this week with the appearance of “Oscillation,” the interactive art installation seen above, currently on display at the Marquette Commons.
Local watchdog/Facebook instigator/self-appointed community conscience… Margaret Brumm, used the FB page “You know you are from Marquette…” to ostensibly question the city’s use of tax dollars to finance the temporary art display. Though Margaret falls short of outright condemnation of the project, her opinion is made evident by her all-caps comments as well as her suggestion for like-minded residents to call our Arts & Culture Office with their objections.
Well, as is typically the case with anything “tax” related, Brumm’s post drew a wave of comments, both for and against the “Oscillation” exhibit, and how it’s being financed. While we can acknowledge some pitfalls, social media has given us a platform for rational dialog on issues of widespread relevance. Key word… rational.
Just the Facts
It was initially rumored the project was costing the city $90,000. I don’t know where that came from, but it got the Facebook ball of confusion rolling full speed.
As it turns out, according to information provided by the Office of Arts & Culture, the total cost of “Oscillation” is $46,463.62. The city department responsible for the exhibit, the Marquette Public Art Commission (MPAC), is on the hook for $24,463.62. Another city entity, the Downtown Development Authority, pitched in $5,000.
Travel Marquette, the county’s convention and visitors bureau, financed largely through hotel/motel room taxes, kicked in another $5,000. $12,000 was brought in through a MI Arts & Culture Council Grant.
To summarize… there are not ninety thousand taxpayer dollars committed to “Oscillation.”
A Commitment to the Arts
Established in 2018, the Marquette Public Art Commission receives $30,000 annually from the city’s general fund. According to official documentation, the idea behind the Public Art Commission is to, among other things, “promote its cultural heritage and artistic development, enhance the City’s character and identity, contribute to economic development and tourism, add warmth, dignity, beauty and accessibility to spaces accessible to the public, and expand the experience and participation of citizens with the arts.”
Other examples of projects initiated by the Public Art Commission include the Dragonfly sculpture at the new Kids Cove Playground, a few of the murals around town, the painted basketball court at Hurley Park, and the Seven Grandfather Teachings sculpture, a public art installation along the Marquette Cultural Trail.
The Public Art Commission meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at the Marquette Arts & Culture Center in the Peter White Public Library. Their meetings are open to the public.
Justify and Enjoy
So that’s the “how” of how our public art happens. The contention of the issue comes from the “why.” Why, when our taxes keep going up and corners are being cut to stay within the budget, are we spending money on items reasonably defined as “discretionary.”
Why? According to the Public Art Network Council, “Public art is a distinguishing part of our public history and our evolving culture. It reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities. Public art humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces. It provides an intersection between past, present and future, between disciplines, and between ideas. Public art is freely accessible.”
Marquette Mayor Jessica Hanley weighs in… “Public art benefits our community in many different ways including economically, culturally, and socially. An economic impact study done in 2022 showed that in the city of Marquette alone, for every $1 spent on art, by the city, or by other organizations and nonprofits, $1.75 was put into the local economy. This aside, public art funding is necessary to our community. It enriches public spaces, brings people together and showcases the uniqueness of our community.”
One comment on Brumm’s Facebook post suggests city dollars should be earmarked only for the essentials, like police, fire, and infrastructure. That’s not an unreasonable position. We could save a few tax dollars by letting the private sector plan and pay for things some consider “extras.”
Not unreasonable, but certainly a slippery slope. Is Presque Isle a necessity, or a luxury? And would the private sector actually step up and find the money for an engaging display many locals and visitors alike seem to be enjoying? For free?
Local Interest
Another objection centers on the idea of money being spent on something from somewhere else. Like… our local artists could’ve used forty six thousand bucks. Arts & Culture staffer Amelia Pruiett explains… “Many of MPAC’s projects are directly commissioned and open to local artists, and all projects are pursued for the cultural and socioeconomic benefit of our local community.”
Arts & Culture Manager Tiina Morin adds, “Bringing skills and expertise from outside Marquette to grow our local offerings and talent is a common and effective strategy not unique to the arts sector.”
Meghan Soucy, a Marquette resident and art teacher in Gwinn, explains the value in looking beyond local. “Art from different places introduces new perspectives, techniques, and cultural expressions that may not be present locally. It enriches the local creative landscape. It encourages critical thinking. It challenges local assumptions.”
Art for the Sake of Art
Just as I’d suggest to anyone, I’d suggest to Ms. Brumm… if you don’t like the decisions being made by our city commissioners and their appointees, run for office. But she’s already done that, and lost. No shame there, but it tells us a majority of Marquette voters prefer ideas other than hers.
Apparently it’s nothing more than Facebook fallacy that Winston Churchill said, “Then what are we fighting for?” when asked to cut arts funding in favor of the war effort. But he did say, “The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them.”
There’s nothing wrong with Marquette taxpayers questioning how their dollars are being spent. And we won’t always agree on what we like in our public art. But even though it’s hard to assign a dollar figure to quality of life, $30,000 a year to the Public Art Commission seems like a reasonable amount.
A visible, vibrant, and highly valued artistic community sounds like a pretty good return on investment.