How do you feel about public art? I know there are some who think it is a waste of money. And there are others who think there is not enough of it. Whatever you think, there is an increasing amount of scientific evidence that proves art can change the brain, according to Renee Phillips article “Art Enhances Brain Function and Well-Being” in The Healing Power of Art & Artists. According to Phillips, “It has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system and can actually raise serotonin levels. Art can change people’s outlooks and the way they experience the world.”
What is public art? According to the Association for Public Art, “Public art is a reflection of how we see the world – the artist’s response to our time and place combined with our own sense of who we are.”
There are five reasons why public art matters, according to Americans for the Arts:
1. Economic growth and sustainability. By engaging in public art as a tool for growth and sustainability, communities can thrive economically. Seventy percent of Americans believe that the “arts improve the image and identity” of their community.
2. Attachment and cultural identity. Public art directly influences how people see and connect with a place, providing access to aesthetics that support its identity and making residents feel appreciated and valued. Aesthetics is one of the top three characteristics why residents attach themselves to a community.
3. Artists as contributors. Providing a public art ecosystem supports artists and other creatives by validating them as important contributors to the community. Artists are highly entrepreneurial. They are 3.5 times more likely than the total U.S. work force to be self-employed.
4. Social cohesion and cultural understanding. Public art provides a visual mechanism for understanding other cultures and perspectives, reinforcing social connectivity with others. Seventy-three percent of Americans agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better.”
5. Public health and belonging. Public art addresses public health and personal illness by reducing stress, providing a sense of belonging, and addressing stigmas towards those with mental health issues. Public art is noted as slowing pedestrians down to enjoy their space and providing a positive impact on mood.
"It is impossible to have a society that is civil and educated without public art," said Darren Walker, vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation and vice chairman of the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies. "It lifts up humanity and challenges the individual who encounters it to think differently about the world."
Comments