Public Art

What is Public Art and why it's important

The Council defines public art as artwork(s) designed by a professional artist or craftsperson for a particular building or site that is accessible to the public. Public art can take a number of forms:

  • It may be discrete or incorporated within a building's structure or result in the creation of new public spaces, landscape (hard and soft), lighting features, seating, sculpture, signage or flooring
  • It may take the form of stonework, metalwork, photography, prints, paintings, textiles, ceramics, projection, moving images, computer generated images, performance, events or music commissions
  • It may be temporary or permanent.

Public art and the processes of creating public artworks contribute to building strong, vibrant and healthy communities: 

  • Our Public Art Strategy and the work surrounding it, enables us to justify seeking public art contributions from developers
  • We have one of the strongest Public Art Programmes in Hampshire
  • Over recent years, we have negotiated significant funds that can be spent on public art projects
  • Because public art outcomes are diverse and the process of creating public art has proven community benefits, projects can be designed to meet specific needs of a community development and /or local area. 

What are the benefits of public art?

  • Public art increases physical and mental well-being by encouraging activity and instilling a sense of belonging and connectedness to a place, its community and culture.

The development of public art creates opportunities to:

  • Connect with people; raise awareness, engage or consult with communities about relevant themes and/or key issues
  • Create a sense of ownership over public spaces and foster a pride founded in the recognition that individuals have made a contribution to their environment
  • Increase community engagement through activity and interaction
  • Increase economic growth through investment and tourism
  • Contribute to learning and education
  • Increase the potential value and status of developments
  • Provide employment for the creative sector.