The Artist as Contributor to Cultural Value
Public art brings artists and their creative vision into the civic decision making process.
In addition the aesthetic benefits of having works of art in public places, artists can make valuable contributions when they are included in the mix of planners, engineers, designers, elected officials, and community
stakeholders who are involved in planning public spaces and amenities.
Artists bring their own creative skill set to those conversations, which can also inspire creativity in others, ideally bringing
the means of decisions and problem-solving to a more responsive and imaginative result.
There is a public art continuum that appreciates the varied creative intentions and roles that artists may bring to
a project. Artists may be invited by an official entity, a project may be artist-initiated, or work may take the form of a non-sanctioned artistic endeavor.
However, artists inevitably bring personal and distinctive interpretations to each idea, site, social construct, and aesthetic potential. In this way, artists can be social and civic leaders, advocating through art for alternative perspectives that can challenge assumptions, beliefs, and community values.