Voting unanimously to create a public arts program for the University, the committee agreed to draft a proposal for the program over the next two months.
The decision was reached after more than an hour of discussion about how the committee should go about incorporating art into UNC's campus.
Anna Wu, director of facilities planning and design, said she was concerned about how to involve people who are not directly associated with the arts into the public arts program.
"That kind of intervention really takes education from building occupants," she said. "People have to realize that these opportunities exist."
Art Professor Kimowan McLain said he wanted to incorporate more contemporary art. "It seems a lot of the collections are representative work from the '50s and '60s," he said. "I'd be curious to see collections representative of more recent times."
Despite concerns, the committee agreed it is willing to pursue a public arts initiative at UNC. Drama Professor Bobbi Owen said she approves furthering the program as long as the committee keeps in mind the sensibilities of the UNC community. "We need to be sensitive to what art represents," Owen said.
Committee members said there are many opportunities in the Master Plan to include art, even in unexpected areas. Such areas include the areas alongside walkways, where a mix of temporary and permanent art could be added.
The meeting also examined plans already in motion for the University's expansion program that would help beautify the campus. Several of these ideas are included in the Master Plan, a 50-year plan of campus growth that includes the unearthing of streams near Ehringhaus Field and the increase of green areas behind Carroll Hall.
Brannock said the committee is far from making any definite decision about the kind of art it wants to see at UNC. She added that she is excited about the committee's progress. "We really sound like we want this and we made the decision today," she said. "Now we have to work out issues of how to do this."
