Poster Ordinance Information Needed

[Pedini]

Hey all-

I attended a small meeting last night here in Asutin that dealt with the city's current postering ordinance that was put into place in the mid-90's. We discussed the recent overturning of a similar ordinance in Seattle (I can't find the thread, I know there's one on here - Clay can you help me?) and we are currently forming a strategy to create a 'working ordinance' in Austin that we can propose to the city.

I'm hoping some of you can point me toward online resources regarding the laws in your area. We'd like to be armed with as much info as possible for the upcoming mayoral election.

But, aside from a general postering ordinance, I started thinking about "posterart kiosks." Places where poster artists can post their creations that promote community and entertainment events and not worry about them being covered with "lost cat" or "lose 30lbs in 30 days!" flyers. I picture walls designated in various pedestrian-active locations that can be somehow monitored and maintained by a group of volunteers. Of course, this creates some tricky issues, like who is considered an "artist" and what is considered poster art and how to prevent taggers and whether or not to include political material... the list goes on. But I want to somehow help legitamize posters as art and celebrate them in the community, rather than have people resent us for 'littering' the city while randomly postering.

Anyway, all thoughts on this matter are appreciated. I was inspired by the talk last night to get the ball rolling. Thanks -Mark

[gun sho]

Originally Posted by Pedini

Hey all-

I attended a small meeting last night here in Asutin that dealt with the city's current postering ordinance that was put into place in the mid-90's. We discussed the recent overturning of a similar ordinance in Seattle (I can't find the thread, I know there's one on here - Clay can you help me?) and we are currently forming a strategy to create a 'working ordinance' in Austin that we can propose to the city.

I'm hoping some of you can point me toward online resources regarding the laws in your area. We'd like to be armed with as much info as possible for the upcoming mayoral election.

But, aside from a general postering ordinance, I started thinking about "posterart kiosks." Places where poster artists can post their creations that promote community and entertainment events and not worry about them being covered with "lost cat" or "lose 30lbs in 30 days!" flyers. I picture walls designated in various pedestrian-active locations that can be somehow monitored and maintained by a group of volunteers. Of course, this creates some tricky issues, like who is considered an "artist" and what is considered poster art and how to prevent taggers and whether or not to include political material... the list goes on. But I want to somehow help legitamize posters as art and celebrate them in the community, rather than have people resent us for 'littering' the city while randomly postering.

Anyway, all thoughts on this matter are appreciated. I was inspired by the talk last night to get the ball rolling. Thanks -Mark

mark, those sound like some great ideas. it would be really great if some more people in other cities got together to push for the same things. strength in numbers.

[Pedini]

Well, maybe if we get something good goin' on we can be an influence elsewhere. That's why I want to know as much as I can about what is happening now and work from there.

[rockologist]

at the viudeo store i worked at, we tried to designate a window strictly for posters that were arts / music related. policing was an insane job taht ended up with a lot of people being pissd that they're stuff got taken down for not fitting criteria. we finally gave up. i like what you're suggesting mark, but more people would have to have the same vision besides us APES and that's probably unlikely. not to sound negative.[/i]

[Pedini]

Originally Posted by rockologist

at the viudeo store i worked at, we tried to designate a window strictly for posters that were arts / music related. policing was an insane job taht ended up with a lot of people being pissd that they're stuff got taken down for not fitting criteria. we finally gave up. i like what you're suggesting mark, but more people would have to have the same vision besides us APES and that's probably unlikely. not to sound negative.[/i]

Yeah, there will always be pissed people.

But I'm thinking if we can get the current ordinance overturned, at least the 'other people' could staple their flyers to telephone poles again without fear of repercussion. And maybe they won't be so pissed if they can't put stuff on the 'poster art kiosks.' Actually rocky, there is currently an injunction against the Austin poster ordinance by the Republican party, so the consensus last night is that we should go put up some posters and test the waters. There are other strategies that Bill Narum had come up with that I can tell you about later.

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Pedini

Clay can you help me?

This one?

http://www.gigposters.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1675

[Pedini]

Yes! Thanks Clay.

[standard]

I think the kiosk idea is a workable solution, but i don't think it's very fair to exclude lost cat flyers, etc. or even small business flyers or whatever. it would have to be a community board to really succeed, and i don't see why rock shows should take precedence over missing kitty cats and homeopathic tree psychics and coupons for oil changes.

[Salcanzonieri]

All over Europe, they use special walls and kiosks for such gig posters, and political posters. The walls are movable some times.
If you have a group of people that will maintain these walls, it would be very good to prevent things getting sloppy and out of hand.
it's a great idea that you have to do that here in the US.

[Pedini]

Tom- I've seen the result of 'community kiosks' and its ugly. Literally and figuratively. If the galleries and museums won't have us poster artists, then we will build places outside to show our stuff while it functions to promote events in the community, in particular those events which promote the long-standing claim of this city as the "live music capitol of the world." Austin has a lot riding on that claim, and we currently have a smoking ban looming overhead that could hurt the already faltering entertainment industry here.

But as I mentioned earlier, its tricky. I wouldn't want to paint the poster community in Austin as 'elitist', yet I do want to distinguish promotional materials that have some thought put into design.

First and foremost we have to get the current laws changed, as they pertain to even what can and can't be displayed on a privately owned business. Which would prevent the whole 'posterart kiosk' thing from ever getting off the ground.