research
Topic: Arts Environments: Public Art
Over 350 public art programs currently exist in the United States—81 percent of which are government programs. These programs place works of art in urban, suburban, and rural settings—from bus stations and subways to public buildings, parks, and neighborhoods. Public art is virtually any piece of art that is “created by artists for places accessible to and used by the public.” As the field has grown, the definition of public art has evolved to include: place-making, environmental art and activism, cause-related art, and interdisciplinary performance events.
Typically, public art has been funded by city government for city-owned property. As private companies become more involved in city planning and development, the public art field sees a growing opportunity to obtain funding and space for future public art works.
Public art programs are increasingly looking for ways to generate more communication between artists and communities. Programs such as this allow collaboration and involvement that ultimately result in public art works that are representative of their communities.
The Americans for the Arts Public Art Network (PAN) develops professional services for the broad array of individuals and organizations engaged in the expanding field of public art.
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