Public art is a form of civic expression that beautifies spaces and serves a variety of purposes: to celebrate a city or neighborhood’s local history, culture or architectural environment; to serve as a tourist attraction, or simply to act as a reminder to a community to be proud of where they live. Many of the world’s most iconic monuments and landmarks are public artworks, such as Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer or Paris’ Eiffel Tower.
Public artwork is a vital component of community development, and has the potential to help improve a city’s economic, cultural and social health. Research shows that public art can foster civic engagement and increase community pride, enhance a sense of place, and attract visitors.
In the past, public art was often referred to as sculptures or statues in large parks and plaza settings, but public artwork is more than just bronze statues. In fact, public art can take a multitude of forms including site-specific installations, murals, architecture, graffiti and performances. These projects can be temporary, as in the case of performances that only last for a night, or permanent like monumental statues and monumental fountains.
The nature of public art can be quite diverse, and can sometimes provoke controversy, particularly when it is political or reflects an unpopular view point. While this is to be expected in a diverse society, it can be a positive sign that the public is interested and engaged in the project.
Despite controversy, public art is very important for a city and its residents. It can inspire citizens, enlighten them, and help them to find common ground in a city that is divided by differences. Public art also has the ability to make a statement on current issues in the city and the world, as can be seen by the numerous protests against the removal of the Parthenon Marbles from their home in the Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece.
Many public artworks are designed specifically for their setting and have a predetermined life span, which means that once they are removed from their original location they cannot be returned to the same space. This is one of the reasons that artists who create ephemeral public works use terms such as “linemarking” or “paintings on water” when they describe their work.
Temporary public art is often funded through Per Capita funds, or in some cases commissioned in support of a capital project that generates Percent for Art funds. Private fundraising and grant funding can also be used to fund these projects. Most projects have a short lifespan of 5 years or less. The first 6 months to 2 years are usually dedicated to community engagement and design process, and then the artist will spend up to a year creating the work. Installation usually takes place quickly in a matter of days or weeks. The copyright for each artwork is controlled by the artist, and permission must be obtained from the artist before any photography or video recording is made of a project.