16-6-803. Department of commerce to acquire works of art; advisory panel to consult in acquisition; procedure; public education programs.

(a) In administering this article, the department shall in consultation with the advisory panel selected pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, designate works of art and sites for placement within buildings and shall accordingly and as necessary, select, purchase, commission, review, place, accept, sell, exchange or dispose of works of art.

(b) The acquisition of works of art from funds within the separate account established under W.S. 16-6-802(b) shall not require advertisement for bids.

(c) The department shall select a panel to serve in an advisory capacity to the department in selecting and designating works of art, comprised of representatives of the community in which the building is located, the user agency, the art community and the architect involved in the original construction of the building. Each panel member shall receive reimbursement for travel and per diem in the same amount and manner as by law provided for state employees.

(d) The department shall by rule and regulation establish the jury procedure for works of art acquired under this article, which shall at minimum:

(i) Give preference to Wyoming artists;

(ii) Prohibit consideration of any work of art of any panel member or a member of his immediate family for the project on which the panel member is serving;

(iii) Require cooperation and communication with local and national art agencies;

(iv) Provide a process for the transfer of acquired works of art from one (1) location to another.

(e) The department may, upon request of any agency, authorize the acquisition of works of art through the pooling of funds available from small, multiple new construction projects and through the use of funds within the separate account as matching any funds available from nonstate sources.

(f) In addition to other duties imposed under this article, the department shall develop and implement public education programs on the purpose of this article, the process for selecting works of art for placement in buildings, the state art collection and on the acquired works of art.