GCSU students present public art proposal to city officials

Jan. 24—Imagine being a student at Georgia College & State University and being given a creative assignment concerning policymaking and public art.

It's a concept all to itself, but then to think students were also tasked with authoring a proposed ordinance as part of the assignment.

Nevertheless, they took on both of those challenges.

Three of the students involved in the GCSU project recently presented it to Milledgeville City Council.

Grace King was joined by fellow students Renata Ocampo and Vivian Cassaniti.

"We're here today to present a report that we created as part of our public policy class at Georgia College taught by Dr. Max Harleman," King said.

The writers of the proposed ordinance said Milledgeville has a unique, historic and welcoming downtown business area.

Other communities across Georgia have explored their cultural heritages by embracing public art in the form of murals, sculptures, and exhibits to promote economic development, cultural enrichment and social cohesion, the students noted.

Many of those communities have adopted public art ordinances.

"Currently, Milledgeville's city code does not contain a public arts ordinance," King said. "In fact, prevailing policies prohibit murals, the most prevalent form of public art on any building in the 10-block of historic district. Moreover, there is no process for installing public art on buildings owned by the city."

The students viewed ordinances from other cities across the state before coming up with the one of their own.

They also discussed the idea with GCSU President Cathy Cox; Carlee Schulte, executive director of Milledgeville Main Street/DDA; Allied Arts Executive Director Rebekah Tobar; Visitors and Convention Bureau Executive Director Rebekah Snider; Milledgeville City Alderman Walter Reynolds; and Jami Gaudet, public information officer with the Macon-Bibb Transit Authority.

Students involved in the project contend that art has the power to transform urban spaces, making them more visually appealing and enhancing their overall aesthetic.

They said they also help to contribute to a greater sense of pride in the community and help attract tourists and visitors alike.

"Public art often sparks dialogue and brings people together," King said. "It can serve as a focal point for community gatherings and events, fostering a sense of belonging and unity."

The students said they are hopeful city officials will review the proposed art ordinance and eventually adopt it.

"I do know that we will have to sit down with Historic Preservation to iron out some differences so we don't have an all-out war," said Milledgeville Alderwoman Denese Shinhoister. "Not saying that we would. But we want to be clear because there were a couple of things in there that I know we're going to have to sit down and discuss and maybe have you all come in and iron those differences out and work it out, and mesh it into this (proposed) ordinance."

Dr. Collinda Lee, another city alderwoman, told the students that overall they did a very good job.

"I am impressed," Lee said.

City Alderman Steve Chambers commended the class.

"It's one thing for three of you, or five of you to sit down, but an entire class to go through it was impressive," Chambers said.

City Alderwoman Jeanette Walden said she couldn't recall anybody ever appearing before city council with an idea and also presenting as proposed ordinance to go along with it.

City Manager Hank Griffeth said in his tenure with the city he couldn't recall a group of college students ever bringing a proposed ordinance to city council.

"I think it speaks highly of this group and the fact that they not only put this kind of work into it, but they actually drafted an ordinance to it, too," Griffeth said.

Lee added that she believed each of the students earned an A.