By Adam Allington / St. Louis Public Radio
ST. LOUIS – A bill is on its way to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay to direct one percent of all money spent on capital improvement projects toward public art.
Board bill number 2 was sponsored by 21st Ward Alderman Antonio French.
In a city where public art icons such as the Arch, City Garden have been so successful, French said that other neighborhoods have struggled to attract the same kind of development.
"What we found is that some of the best places for public art in the city have only happened just because of private dollars," French said, "And so those neighborhoods that aren't as economically successful, or aren't home to as many businesses, under the current system would probably never see public art."
According to the bill, one half of the one percent will be spent in the same neighborhood that the capital project took place, and another quarter percent goes into a city-wide fund administered by the Regional Arts Commission.
The law will only apply to projects starting after July of next year.