The Dakota West Arts Council will take the lead in developing a community arts program-policy with the intent of getting the city involved.

The Bismarck Parks and Recreation District started the ball rolling through sponsoring a public forum on the subject and involving St. Paul, Minn.-based arts consultant Jack Becker.

Following the forum, Dakota West Arts Council president Jeff Weikum sent a letter to park district director Steve Neu, indicating the council's willingness to take the lead in developing a program. Neu recommended the park board let Dakota West take the lead, with the district providing what assistance it can.

While board members John Sagsveen and Mike Gilbertson were in support of the offer, board member Paul Quist had other ideas.

"I think this is going in the wrong direction. We should have a lawyer draft a policy and then bring in the arts council," Quist said. "I'd hate to have artists creating art policy. I'd rather it be more objective."

Sagsveen said Quist might be right, but said he wanted the Dakota West Arts Council to make a presentation on their plan to facilitate the process. He also would like to see the city get involved and said the arts council might be able to persuade the city commission to participate.

Neu said his recommendation involved Dakota West bringing back a plan with their involvement. He said Becker and forum moderator Mike McCormack recommended that the art community be involved in the program, much the same as baseball or hockey boosters get involved in those programs.

"I agree; obviously, we should have the arts involved with a committee," Gilbertson said. "I also agree with Paul (Quist), that what comes out of this should be legally cut and dry."

Weikum said he believes that Dakota West, the umbrella organization for all the local arts, is best suited to spearhead and facilitate the process, rather than having the park district shoulder the process.

"The organization can go talk to the city and find funding for the administrative side, which is definitely a component," Weikum said. "We plan to visit with the city, talk to the park district and visit a little more with Jack Becker."

It's not the intention to write policy from scratch or even rewrite the findings of the forum, Becker said. There are plenty of art programs and policies out there, and it just will be a matter of taking the best and incorporating it into Bismarck policy, he said.

Becker envisions putting together a committee representing the community.

"Dynamic people representing different aspects, such as engineering, architecture and the arts," Becker said.

While the park district arts forum brought the issue to a head … a little bit, Becker said, it wasn't a forum that involved everybody. That's something he believes the arts council can bring about.

Becker is uncertain about a timeline, but expects to move forward as swiftly as possible.

"Right now, the public is interested, and we have to keep moving forward," Becker said. "I don't think this is something that is years away. The initial stages are perhaps months away. We have to put together a workable committee."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com.)