Policy 4.9 - Art Policy

Date: October 16, 2023

Supersedes:
December 21, 2015, Resolution #16-133

This policy document directly relates to Art Policy, of the SUNY Schenectady Board of
Trustees, as hereto attached.

Policy Statement

SUNY Schenectady is proud of the aesthetic nature of its buildings, halls and spaces and wishes to utilize these spaces to provide its students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests with a wide variety of art to view and enjoy.

For purposes of this policy, “art” is any aesthetically pleasing and/ or thought-provoking creative work that includes but is not limited to prints, drawings, books and paper art, paintings, sculpture, ceramics textiles, photographs, installation art, soundscapes, digital art, and mixed media.

Purpose

This policy is designed to assist the greater SUNY Schenectady community in continuing to display the works of regional and local artists, including but not limited to members of our faculty, staff, and student body, and to provide for the protection of the works of art and for a process that will allow the display of artwork that will be consistent with the College's best interest, taking into account its complex network of stakeholders, both internal and external.

Process 

  1. SUNY Schenectady complies with intellectual property laws associated with the display of art and artistic productions. Therefore, it is important to identify the individual(s) or organizations that hold the intellectual property rights to the work and therefore may legally authorize its display.
  2. The holder of the property rights to the artwork will be responsible for transporting the piece(s) to the college; if the holder is unable or unwilling to transport the piece(s), the College may reimburse the holder for transportation costs of a third party.
  3. Before the art is exhibited, the college will enter into a written agreement with the holder setting forth the terms and conditions of the display, including its location, duration, fees (if any), and which party will assume the risk should the piece(s) be damaged or stolen. The president is authorized to sign such agreement if, in the determination of the Creative Art Review Committee (CARC), it is in the best interest of the college to do so.
  4. The CARC is hereby established to review works of art offered to SUNY Schenectady for display and determine acceptance or rejection. The CARC will be composed of one (1) representative from each of the academic divisions, the office of Student Affairs and the office of Administrative Affairs, who will select from among themselves a chair which will serve as such for no more than one consecutive year. The CARC will meet periodically as needed.
  5. The role of the CARC will be to balance the interests of the College in supporting freedom of expression through display of a variety of artworks, with those interests, concerns and sensitivities of its student, faculty, staff, visitors and guests. In balancing these factors, the CARC will act in the best interest college. The judgment of the CARC as to these matters will be final and binding, and the College reserves the right to reject all or some of the artwork submitted to it for display if, in its judgment, it is not in the best interest of the College for it do so.

Review and Distribution 

  1. This policy will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees every five (5) years or sooner, if appropriate.
  2. The CARC is hereby authorized to establish guidelines as needed to effectuate this policy, for approval and adoption by the president.
  3. This policy will be posted on the website along with other Policies of the Board of Trustees and distributed in an appropriate manner as determined by the president.

Approved as information item by the SUNY Schenectady Board of Trustees, October 16, 2023.