Our
friend Dixon in Canada sent us a note yesterday with what we thought was a
terrific idea. Them.ca has launched a new
project called “The Beautiful City Billboard Fee” (BCBF) in which billboard
companies pay an annual fee with proceeds going to support public art. Sort of
balancing out the scales a bit.

According to a Pollara public opinion
poll, a majority of Canadians support the institution of a fee on billboard
advertising that would be redirected into public art. A total of 2006 Canadian
adults participated in the survey, 66% of which supported the fee and 11% were
opposed. (?2.2%, 19/20) This result was closely mirrored in Toronto, with 66% of
participants supporting the proposal and only 15% opposed (?8.3%, 19/20).
/>
The primary objectives of the BCBF are: 1) beautification of the city;
2) creation of employment for artists and 3) diversifying access to visual
communication in public spaces to reflect the creativity and multiplicity that
exists in Canada’s urban centres.

Them.ca proposes a charge of $6.00
per sq. foot of billboard space per year. Those funds will then be redirected
towards public art. Thus, five 15’x25’ billboards could subsidize one small art
piece for the cost of $10 000.00 (allowing $1250.00 for administrative and
maintenance expenses incurred by city and granting bodies).

On a
larger scale, the estimated 5000 billboards in Toronto could generate six
million dollars for public art per year.

Jim Garrard, a previous
Executive Director of the Toronto Arts Council said - “...To me there’s room for
advertising in the world in moderation and in balance with other kinds of
messages. We don’t have that. Our ‘pure’ artists are certainly at a disadvantage
when it comes to resources. A reasonable balance between conflicting agendas is
what we always hope for. Seeing more of the best work of our best artists in
public places would contribute to that. That would also make this city and the
world better places to live in,”“

For more information including:
quotes, sources, FAQ, a copy of the full proposal, resources, images and the
findings from poll, fo to - href="http://bcbf.them.ca/">http://bcbf.them.ca