Pushing to increase public art in Louisville, Mayor Greg Fischer on Monday appointed Sarah Lindgren as the city's public art administrator.In her new role, Lindgren will direct the applications for for grants and donations to the city, and she'll develop a plan to care for the city's public art collection. She'll serve as the administrative manager for the city'sCommission on Public Art; the commission'smaster plan called for the administrator post.“She’ll work with local artists, with non-profits, neighborhood groups—everyone that would like to work to get involved in putting public art on the street," said Patti Clare, the city's deputy director for economic development and innovation.In a statement, Fischer said he expects with Lindgren's appointment to lead to public art taking a more prominent place in the city, and to it taking "a front seat in development discussions." Lindgren most recently served as the Speed Art Museum's director of principal gifts and membership and its director of corporate and foundation development, the city said.She previously served as assistant registrar for the St. Louis Art Museum. “Her kind of development experience, her experience with art and knowledge of art and working with artists, working with development communities, was the perfect fit for what we wanted to do," Clare said.(Photos of the city's public art can be viewed here.)Thepublic art administrator position called for in the mayor's last budget.Lindgren will work on a year-long contract that is renewable for five years, budget permitting, Clare said. Her annual compensation will be $50,000.Her first day is Jan. 6.
