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      ​​​​​​​​​​​​Public Art Plan

      The department develops the Public Art Plan annually with input and assistance from the Mayor and City Council, city residents, artists, city departments that provide percent-for-art funding, and the Arts and Culture Commission.

      The Plan identifies and budgets public art projects citywide and coincides with the annual Capital Improvement Program budget each fiscal year, which begins on July 1.  The Plan requires approval by the Arts and Culture Commission and City Council. 

      Public art projects within the FY 2024-2029 Public Art Plan are prioritized based on opportunities to integrate artwork into individual Capital Improvement Program projects and their potential impact on the neighborhood and the broader arts community.  Under these parameters, the FY 2024-2029 Public Art Plan focuses on the equitable distribution of funds, as allowable by the percent-for-art ordinance, and the diversification of the public art collection through broadening the types of project opportunities and continued outreach to new artists and arts organizations.  

      The Public Art Plan includes the following types of projects:

      1. Design Teams: artists work with engineers, landscape architects, and architects to develop major construction projects, such as department facilities, freeway bridges, streetscape improvements, and airports.
      2. Site-Specific Commissions: artists design and fabricate permanent artwork or enhancements to suit specific locations.
      3. Temporary Commissions: Artists of all disciplines can create works or installations that can be viewed for a limited time at select public sites.
      4. Purchase of Existing Artwork: Works are purchased and displayed as part of the city's permanent portable art collection, which began in 1915.
      5. Master Planning: Short- and long-range plans are developed to integrate art into specific public programs and initiatives, such as aviation, public works, and water capital improvement programs.
      6. Artwork Refurbishment: Existing artworks sometimes need significant repairs or retrofits to remain in good condition or adjust to changes to their original site. These modifications go beyond routine artwork maintenance activities.

      FY2024-2029 Public Art Plan Highlights:

      • Of the 48 projects outlined in the Plan, nine address significant retrofits or refurbishments, seven support broader city-wide initiatives like heat mitigation, and three are a component of long-range planning efforts like Rio Reimagined.
      • The plan includes percent-for-art funding from the General Obligation Bond Program, creating approximately nine new public art projects. 
      • In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies selected Phoenix as one of eight prestigious Public Art Challenge winners. This unique program supports temporary public art projects that address important local civic issues in cities nationwide. Phoenix's project, ¡Sombra! The Celebration of Shade received $1,000,000 to commission nine artists to create shading and cooling installations in response to extreme urban heat.  The Plan includes matching to support this exciting project.  For more information, visit www.sombraphx.org​. 
      • In 2024, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport began design work on a new expansion project in Terminal 3. The Plan includes $4,500,000 for public art as part of this significant expansion project.