LAS CRUCES - To some Las Cruces artists, and patrons of the arts, the walls of the new City Hall building are a little barren.

The city's Senior Programs provides some artwork that is displayed in City Hall. But City Council has agreed to begin a pilot program, called "Art On Loan," that would allow some city and Doña Ana County artists to display their works in public areas of City Hall.

"We appreciate the efforts, applaud the efforts to display art," said John Northcutt, president of Artforms Artist Association of New Mexico.

Lori Grumet, city public services director, said Tuesday it's taken about six months to start the pilot program where five pieces of artwork from local artists will be put on display at City Hall. The idea for the program came from the artists, themselves.

"The Doña Ana County (Government) Building has showcased children's art for several years," Rebecca Courtney said.

But according to Grumet, the city hasn't, and doesn't, have the money to start the program. So, artists will have to pay a $10 application fee for every piece of art they want to be considered for display at City Hall. Also, the city would get a 30-percent commission on any artwork sold while being displayed at the city government building.

"It's an opportunity for the community to take pride in what we can do," said Las Crucen Greg Smith, whose mother is an artist.

Grumet said the application fees and possible commissions will pay for the program.

"From what other

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artists have told us, the $10 application fee would be comparable to $40 application fees the artists already pay for other events where they enter their artworks," Grumet said. "A lot of cities have programs similar to this, and those are funded or have revenue streams. But because this is a pilot program the city has no additional money, no additional staffing to oversee this program."

A resolution to form an ad-hoc committee, of seven, will be presented to City Council at its Feb. 7 meeting. Interested residents would be invited to apply. Committee members would be chosen from each of the City Council's six districts and one by Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

"In a perfect world, the goal would be to get the committee up and running as quickly as possible, so that artwork could be displayed possibly as early as April. That would be the best-case scenario," Grumet said. "In the worst-case scenario, artwork wouldn't be put on display at City Hall until June."

Grumet added the program could be easily expanded to allow for artwork to be displayed in other city buildings if it is successful.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.