Public Art & Design Program

Purpose & Services

Public art often involves a process that builds relationships, solves problems, interacts with the public, and builds consensus. It is a special type of engagement, often affecting a very broad and diverse spectrum of people. It has the potential to reach new audiences and engage the public in ways that traditional art forms simply cannot, and also "adds value" to civic and private development & infrastructure projects, increasing their value to the public and the community. Public art can also include "place-specific" activities or installations responding to elements or characteristics found in a particular location, such as its history, physical environment, audiences, or current social concerns.

Our Public Art & Design staff can assist you and your community or organization develop a public art committee, educate an existing committee on what public art is and help with project identification and/or the project and artist selection process. Networking with others involved in public art projects is often a valuable step in learning how comparable communities or organizations produce sustainable public art programs and projects. Contact us for more information on services available.

Some examples of public art include, but are not limited to:

• temporary or permanently placed work,
• aesthetic objects,
• an artplace (a space designed as a place of unified aesthetic),
• suspended or kinetic work,
• commemorative memorials and statues,
• traditional or folk-inspired art,
• functional work (doors, gates, fences, street or park furniture),
• ornamental work,
• landmarks,
• environmental work,
• lighted work,
• literary treatments,
• sound and video installations,
• murals and trompe l'oeil,
• performance art,
• surface treatments (wall, floor, ceiling, sidewalk, plaza), and
• water fountains.