Public Art
The term public art is no longer limited to bronze statues lining a city street or sitting up high on a pedestal in a city park. Public art now refers to a wide range of different types of art-murals, sculptures, community art, interactive art, digital art, performances and festivals. It covers a broad spectrum of art that is created to enhance a city, a park, a building, or any location in which it is displayed. Public art can be made to be a permanent addition or a temporary one. It adds beauty to an area, integrates the area’s culture into the space, can be used as educational and improves the overall well being of the urban or rural environment.
Cities across the country have enacted the Percent for Art program. This program requires a percentage of the project cost be towards public art. These projects include city parks, airports, and public buildings. Including public art in new or remodeled spaces has its benefits to the public or private owner of the space. According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV*, a study conducted by the Americans for the Arts in 2010, America’s culture industry and nonprofit arts generates $135.2 billion in economic activity each year.
While public art is generating more attraction and greater revenue, artists are still struggling to get their art publicly seen. Artists mainly have to rely on whom they know to get their foot in the door of having their art publicly displayed. Most artists can’t afford to have any outside help to find public art requests and have to spend a great deal of time submitted portfolio work to people they may never hear back from. With so many great artworks being created, how can these artists be better connected to the funds that are being set up specifically for them? How can we improve this system for more artwork to be seen and enjoyed by public throughout the country?
