Q: What is the City of Phoenix Public Art Program?
A: The Public Art Program was established by the Phoenix City Council to involve artists with other design professionals in making Phoenix a more beautiful and vibrant city. The program works on the public's behalf to select the highest quality artwork, create distinctive community landmarks, and involve the community in the design of essential public buildings, systems and spaces. It also offers professional development opportunities for Arizona artists to develop their careers.
Q: When was the Public Art Program established?
A: The program was created in 1986 through an ordinance that allocates one percent of the city's annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to public art projects.
Q: Where does Public Art funding come from?
A: Public art is supported with a penny from every CIP dollar used to build or improve city infrastructure, such as streets, parks, airports, libraries, community centers, recycling centers and more.
Q: Can this designated funding be used for other purposes?
A: No. CIP funds must be used to design and build city projects. They cannot be used to hire city workers, such as librarians, police or firefighters, or pay to operate public buildings, like libraries, senior centers, parks and swimming pools.
Q: Does the City's public art investment affect the local economy?
A: Yes. Because Phoenix public art enhances city buildings and infrastructure, most of the work is carried out by local construction and fabrication trades. Since 2005, when POAC began tracking the flow of funds into the Arizona economy, more than 80 percent of public art spending has gone to local contractors and suppliers.
Q: I don't like some public art. What can I do?
A: Public art is no different from other public works in its power to stir discussion and controversy. For everyone who likes a project, it might be easy to find someone else who doesn't. In the end, public art is about community engagement and dialogue. Over time, artworks that are initially met with mixed public reaction eventually become accepted as part of the community's cultural fabric. If you would like to become involved in the public art process, contact the Office of Arts and Culture, 602-262-4637.
Q: Why should I care about public art?
A: Public art plays an important role in shaping our city and surroundings. By involving the public in improving the appearance and function of key civic buildings, spaces and systems, it can help make Phoenix a better place to live
Q: If the city has budget problems, why do you still do public art?
A: While the city's operating budget is challenged from time to time, new and expanded capital infrastructure is still needed to meet the needs of our growing community. By improving infrastructure design public art enriches our built environment and creates a more beautiful city.
Q: How does art benefit the public during difficult economic times?
A: Public art projects tied to improving our infrastructure support a wide range of local design, engineering, construction and fabrication jobs. People coming to see major new works of art also contribute money to the economy through local sales tax.
Q: Is Phoenix the only place with a public art program?
A: No. Most leading American cities and neighboring Valley cities have public art programs. Phoenix is among more than 300 publicly funded public art programs nationwide.
Q: Is government funding of the arts new?
A: No. The U.S. has a proud history of government support of the arts, dating back to the 1800s when Congress began funding the creation of murals, paintings and sculptures for the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Government arts support expanded in the 1930s, when the Works Progress Administration funded public infrastructure and art programs to create jobs by building a wide range of essential public works during the Great Depression. The City of Phoenix is proud to have a successful Public Art Program that involves residents and artists in the process of creating a more beautiful city.