The City of Vancouver's public art program is 25 years old and has helped create more than 300 artistic works.

And now, Vancouver city council is prepared to give it a financial shot in the arm.

In a report going to council, staff has recommended that $1.5 million be allocated over two years "to support Vancouver's vibrant and world class emerging art scene through events and projects".

Two-thirds of the funds—$1 million—would come from unallocated spending in the 2015–18 capital plan for social and cultural grants. The remaining $500,000 would be sourced from the city's innovation fund for matching grants.

Council will vote on the staff recommendation at the next policy and strategic priorities committee meeting next Wednesday (June 29).

Should council agree to spend $500,000 from the innovation fund in this way, staff has also recommended that council approve two matching grants: 

• $200,000 to Create Vancouver Society for the 2016 Vancouver Mural Festival, which would match the grant with its own funds;

• and $45,000 to the Lumiere Festival Society for "artist lighting projects in Jim Deva Plaza", which would be held in partnership with the West End Business Improvement Association.

Staff would prepare a report on how the remaining $255,000 from the innovation fund should be spent.

The report also calls for $300,000 to be spent in 2017 and 2018 on community public art grants.

In addition, it recommends $110,000 in spending on a 250-square-metre "Imagination Zone", which is a public space to "encourage experiments in creating a healthy and creative city".

Modelled on a similar project in Dublin, it's being done in partnership with CityStudio and involves the hiring of a curator who would manage public art projects in the area.

Through playful public art, it would help residents learn about the city's regulatory and approval processes, according to the report.

Another recommendation is for funding the Musqueam infrastructure project in South Vancouver. If council votes in favour, it would receive $100,000 over two years to support two to five artistic projects.

The Musqueam, Imagination Zone, Jim Deva Plaza, Vancouver Mural Festival, and community public art grants are defined in the report as "quick starts".

They add up to $755,000. The remaining $745,000 in spending could be outlined in a future staff report if council gives everything the green light on June 29.

"The report is a significant step to achieving Council's ambitious objectives by funding give new innovative Public Art Boost Quick Starts and providing funding for future opportunities for public art projects in 2017 and 2018," the report states.

It notes that staff is in discussion with the nonprofit Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, which wraps up this year. It shows art in public spaces on a temporary basis. According to the report, the conversations are focusing "on ways to support the next Biennale including partnering on one-time projects and commissions and promotions in 2017".