Hereafter no work of art shall be erected or placed in, over, or upon or allowed to be extended into, over, or upon any street, alley, avenue, square, common, boulevard, park, grounds used for school or other public purposes, municipal building, school building, or other public building or public place under the control of the city, or any department or officer thereof, unless the work of art, or a design thereof, together with a statement of the proposed location of the work of art first has been submitted to and approved by the commission. The commission, when they deem it proper, may also require a complete model of the proposed work of art to be submitted. The term "work of art" as used in this connection shall apply to and include all paintings, mural decorations, stained glass, statues, bas reliefs, sculptures, monuments, ornaments, fountains, arches, ornamental gateways, or other structures of a permanent character intended for ornament or commemoration. No existing work of art in the possession of the city, or in any park, or school building, or on any boulevard, public ground or school ground, shall be removed relocated, or altered in any way without a similar approval of the commission, except as provided in Section 11-46-7.
The commission shall act in this same capacity and shall have these same powers (1) in respect to designs of buildings, bridges, approaches, gates, fences, lamps, or other structures to be erected upon land belonging to and occupied by the city, or in any park, public ground, or boulevard under the jurisdiction of the city, and (2) in respect of the lines, grades, and platting of public ways and grounds, and (3) in respect of the arches, bridges, structures, and approaches which will be the property of any corporation or private individual, and which are to be extended over or upon any street, avenue, highway, boulevard, park, or other public place belonging to or under the jurisdiction of the city, and the commission's approval shall be required for every such structure which is hereafter contracted for, erected, or altered. But in case any such structure, not including works of art, which is hereafter contracted for, erected, or altered at a total expense not exceeding $200,000, the approval of the art commission shall not be required if the city council so directs.
The commission may offer advice or suggestions to the owners of private property in relation to the beautification of their property. Any person, who is about to erect any building or make any improvement, may submit the plans and designs thereof to the art commission for advice and suggestions. The art commission may receive and act upon the complaints and suggestions of citizens or voluntary associations having such objects and purposes in view as are specified in this section.
The commission shall record its proceedings and make a report thereof in writing annually to the mayor of the city.
65 ILCS 5/11-46-5