District officials have found a way to dress the new Washington Nationals’ stadium in murals, paintings, photography and sculpture, despite the ubiquitous cost cap hanging over the project.
The idea to display a wide selection of artwork throughout the park and its many public plazas was nixed in December when officials were told the effort would cost taxpayer dollars and bust the $611 million construction cap, a strict limit set by the D.C. Council.
But the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, which is managing the construction project, and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which has set aside $2 million for stadium art, were not to be denied their masterpiece.
Under a deal nearing approval, the arts commission would acquire and install all stadium art. The sports commission, meanwhile, “shall make certain designated areas of the Washington Nationals Ballpark available for the display of such art at no expense to the Arts Commission.”
In essence, the arts commission would implement a public arts project at the ballpark, using taxpayer dollars, without the cost of a single painting or sculpture showing up in the stadium construction budget. At no point would the sports commission or the Nationals take ownership of the art.
“This art is only being leased to the stadium,” said Claude Bailey, sports commission general counsel. “It belongs to the arts commission so we don’t get into these cap issues. It’s a loan essentially.”
The sports commission approved the deal this week, while the arts commission has yet to vote. Tony Gittens, arts commission executive director, said he hasn’t received the documentation.
The commissions found a valid loophole that should clear the way for public art at the stadium, said Ward 1 Council Member Jim Graham, who had previously questioned the use of public money for that purpose.
