OGDEN — The Ogden City Council approved public art funds in the amount of $190,459 to the Utah Transit Authority public art project in a 7-0 vote on Tuesday. With UTA’s Ogden Express bus rapid transit stations being built and artists being chosen, the enhancements are scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Ogden City Arts began working with the UTA, Weber State University and Intermountain Healthcare in February on ways to enhance the up and coming BRT stations.

Colorful and impactful murals varying by location were thought to be the perfect beautification statement for the city, according to information from Ogden City Arts, which stated in a slide presentation that the murals would help “weave the arts into the daily Ogden experience.”

The project budget is estimated to cost a total of $266,959. With WSU funding approximately $66,000 and IHC contributing $10,500, Ogden City is responsible for a bulk of the costs.

Prior to a nationwide request for qualifications in September, the Ogden Arts Advisory Committee recommended funding the project with stipends to attract strong, professional artists. Approved funds include payment of approximately $5,000 per artist for their work, totaling $50,000 in stipends.

Ten of the 68 artists who responded to the RFQ are being notified of their selection and assigned station. Twenty-two BRT stations are being enhanced with art specific to one of 13 locations throughout Ogden.

Weber State University is commissioning artists in-house to create art for two BRT locations on campus as well as the Dee Events Center and are thus not being funded by the project.

Ogden City Arts is planning to apply for a RAMP grant in the amount of $86,500 by Jan. 14, 2022, to help with costs. Christy McBride, Ogden City Arts division manager, said he believes RAMP would be in full support of the project.

Attempting to keep the project on schedule while also acknowledging the organization may not have the full amount requested, Ogden City Arts included the possibility in the amount approved by the city council.

If RAMP awards the grant, no matter the amount, money allocated by the city will be returned back to the public art fund for future projects.

“This will be one of the biggest art projects in Weber County for a long time,” McBride said. “It’s been a great collaboration.”

The OGX BRT system will be free to ride for the first three years thanks to a federal grant received by the UTA.

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