Richmond International Airport Public Art Plan
Richmond, Virginia
WHY
The Art in the Airport program at Richmond International Airport (RIC) strives to complement and promote the dynamic regional culture of the State of Virginia, with an emphasis on the Richmond Metropolitan area, while reinforcing the image of RIC as an inclusive and welcoming gateway to the world. The three main objectives are to enhance the air travel experience of RIC visitors by creating an ambiance in the airport that reflects the sophistication and cultural diversity of the region and supports local artists and institutions by creating and managing rotating exhibitions, fine and performing art series that are customized for RIC.
HOW
Designing Local was selected to bring our unique set of skills, professional experience, and insight in the development of the Art in the Airport program at RIC. Engaging the community, art and artists, and our proven ability to develop a multi-cultural art program has been critical in the development and coordination of this arts program. Designing Local facilitated a series of highly interactive and inclusive public workshops and stakeholder meetings that yielded essential insights to craft a narrative about RIC and articulate the culture and values of the community.
WHAT
The final plan includes a fully developed arts program, including master planning, commission management, and art curation. Potential locations for art placement were identified, while taking into consideration the existing airport design, maintenance, RIC Master Plan, and the Capital Improvement Plan. Designing Local is also curating RIC's first public art piece to be installed in Fall of 2024.
Anaheim Public Art Plan
Anaheim, California
WHY
The Anaheim Public Art Master Plan takes an overarching look at Anaheim’s legacy of public art while setting a vision for the future and defining how public art will shape Anaheim for years to come. The framework of this plan is a strategy for the establishment and operationalization of a formal Public Art Program that proposes ways to ensure public art in Anaheim is transformational, unifying, and is representative of the spirit of Anaheim.
HOW
The Public Art Plan outlines the vision, goals, and core values of the City’s Public Art Program. The Plan also provides essential administrative guidelines for determining how public art is identified, preserved, selected, and placed. Public Art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic, and economic vitality of a community. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this plan is a result of extensive public engagement. The consultant team, along with City leadership and staff, worked diligently to engage the public throughout an 18-month process (August 2020-December 2021) and provided ample opportunity for a broad cross-section of the community to participate in shaping the vision for public art in Anaheim. The team held over 40 virtual stakeholder engagement opportunities, including 18 individual interviews, 25 focus groups, and six identical community meetings in each of Anaheim’s 6 Council Districts to listen and learn about the community’s vision for public art. Participants included business owners, arts organizations, art educators, realtors, private developers, community groups, and engaged residents. Translation services were available on an as-needed basis. 2,149 people participated in a survey. In all, over 3,000 people were engaged.
WHAT
Throughout the stakeholder meetings, individual and group interviews, and survey comments, several recurring themes emerged. The people of Anaheim want to be known for their creativity. They want public art to become synonymous with their identity, elevating their reputation in southern California, stacking upon the experience of a tourist destination. They want public art to celebrate and showcase the many cultures in Anaheim, and they want to see public art reflecting their values in their local neighborhoods. They want art to be a part of their public spaces, making them more exciting and desirable. They want to share their histories and the history of Anaheim with each other and, ultimately, the world.
Anderson Township Public Art Master Plan
Anderson Township, Ohio
WHY
Anderson Township leaders decided that public art should play a major role in the future of their community, and worked over the course of nine months to develop a well-funded Public Art Program.
HOW
Designing Local conducted robust public engagement, with a series of stakeholder meetings and focus groups with various community leaders — despite the global pandemic. Focus groups were held in Julifs Park, and an open house was held to gather input and feedback on the Public Art Program’s structure and priorities.
WHAT
The Anderson Township Public Art Master Plan included an implementation strategy detailing funding streams, optimal locations for public art, and a variety of projects and programs to secure early success for the Public Art Program.
Port St. Lucie Art in Public Places Master Plan
Port St. Lucie, Florida
WHY
The City of Port St. Lucie is dedicated to creating a more livable, beautiful community and looked to public art as a means to accomplishing this. The city created an Art in Public Places program through A Percent for Art in Private Development funding, and created a Public Art Board to review projects. The next step for the city was to create an Art in Public Places Master Plan to guide program implementation.
HOW
It is hard to believe that our first large-scale public engagement event for the plan was the first city event canceled due to COVID-19 back in March 2020! Designing Local was able to transition to digital engagement and, thanks to the public’s enthusiasm for more public art in Port St. Lucie, got feedback from nearly 1,000 residents.
WHAT
The Art in Public Places Master Plan lays out a vision for the future of public art in Port St. Lucie, which is now on track to develop a world-class public art program. Designing Local has continued to provide art implementation for the last 2 years.
