Is Public Art a Public Good?

The Community's Conversation

Art in its most highly visible public form can serve as a point of pride for residents and a draw for tourists. In the era of Instagram, public art can enliven neighborhoods with color, joy, and inclusiveness, reflecting what a community values and holds dear.

It can be a means for a society to showcase creativity and wonder, but can also be used to send a not-so-subtle signal of cultural, economic, or social dominance. It can be highly controversial (think Columbus’ now-removed statue of Christopher Columbus) or even illegal (think graffiti). What messages should public art in Columbus convey, and who gets to decide whose art becomes public art?

This week we’re joined by a panel of art leaders as we discuss the release of the new State of Public Art Report by the Greater Columbus Arts Council with a passionate conversation on the role, message, and future of public art in Columbus.

The panelists are:

Adam Brouillette, Artist, Muralist, and Public Art Advocate

Celeste Malvar-Stewart, Fashion Designer & Performance-Based Public Artist, and Adjunct Faculty, The Columbus College of Art & Design

Marshall Shorts, Creative-N-Chief, Artfluential, and Creative Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative

Shelbi Toone, Public Art Commissioner, and Project Manager, Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center

The host is Corey Favor, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Talent, & Culture, Orange Barrel Media, and Columbus College of Art & Design Alumni

This forum was sponsored by The Greater Columbus Arts Council and The Columbus Museum of Art. It was supported by The Ellis.

The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 31, 2024.