NEWSROOM
July 31
Greater Columbus. Greater ART celebrated the official launch of our Community Engagement on July 12th and 13th, hosting two vibrant public Town Halls.
June 30
Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” Initiative Announces Launch of Community Engagement Phase with In-Person Kickoff Event on July 12 at Columbus Metropolitan Library
May 25
Greater Columbus Arts Council, City of Columbus and Franklin County Leaders Launch a Public Art Plan Initiative
Jon Ray/ FulRay Productions
JULY 31, 2023
Greater Columbus. Greater ART celebrated the official launch of our Community Engagement on July 12th and 13th, hosting two vibrant public Town Halls.
The in-person event took place on July 12th at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library, bringing together 120 individuals to share their insights and opinions, followed by a virtual session the next day with roughly 35 participants.
Each event kicked off with opening statements from the planning team, including Jami Goldstein, Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Events at GCAC, Marshall Shorts, Creative-n-Chief at Artfluential, and Holly Shen, Director at Lord Cultural Resources.
After this brief introduction, Tyiesha Radford Shorts from Black Women Rise Poetry Collective mesmerized attendees with a powerful and evocative poem that literally and figuratively brought to life the influence and power of public art.
The in-person Town Hall was energized with a collective conversation and lively breakout discussions facilitated by Kimberly Brazwell, CEO and founder of KiMISTRY, who posed thoughtful inquiries around various dimensions of public art, including:
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What does 'public' signify in public art?
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What roles does public art play during times of hurt and healing?
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What can you contribute to public art and what do you expect to receive from it?
Participants enthusiastically shared their thoughts on notecards, which were collected for the team's analysis, with similar questions asked of the virtual attendees. Some of the insightful highlights are included below.
If you have insights or opinions about the future of public art in Greater Columbus, we invite you to participate in our digital survey, provide audio feedback, or join us at our upcoming Public Office Hours.
JUNE 30, 2023
Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” Initiative Announces Launch of Community Engagement Phase with In-Person Kickoff Event on July 12 at Columbus Metropolitan Library
Public involvement to feature series of events and new audio series
COLUMBUS, Ohio — “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” announces the beginning of the project’s public engagement period, which will launch with an in-person kickoff event on Wednesday, July 12 at Columbus Metropolitan Main Library from 6-8 p.m.
Led by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) and jointly funded by the City of Columbus and Franklin County, “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” endeavors to create a roadmap for the future of public art in central Ohio.
The July 12 town-hall style kickoff is open to all community members and is a dynamic opportunity for residents and community members to learn more about the process, ask questions and participate in a lively discussion about public art in central Ohio. A second and similarly styled kickoff event will be held in a virtual town hall format the following day, Thursday, July 13, from 1-2 p.m. on Zoom. Additional questions and discussion may be had during Virtual Office Hours on July 19 from 1-2 p.m.
Upcoming Public Engagement Event Details
In-Person Kickoff
Wednesday, July 12, 6-8 p.m.
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch
96 S. Grant Ave.
Join us to learn more about the planning process and participate in a dynamic conversation about the future of public art in Greater Columbus. Following an information and discussion session, attendees will be invited to mark the kickoff with an artistic presentation and light refreshments in Kaufman Plaza behind the Library.
Virtual Kickoff
Thursday, July 13, 1-2 p.m. EST (will take place monthly)
Virtual participants will learn more about the planning process and have the chance to share their thoughts on public art in Greater Columbus.
Wednesday, July 19, 1-2 p.m. EST
Background
Approach to Public Engagement & Civic Dialogue
Spanning roughly four months, the public engagement period will focus on creating awareness of the research and planning effort, fostering civic dialogue around perceptions and needs related to public art, and listening closely to the input of diverse stakeholders and community members to foreground the voices of all those who live, work, create, visit, play and learn in Columbus. The project team, led by Columbus-based creatives Marshall Shorts and Jonna Twigg, will draw upon a variety of approaches to collecting feedback that prioritize historically underserved constituencies to ensure equitable representation and robust findings. In addition to more traditional engagement methods such as key informant interviews and public town hall-style gatherings, the engagement phase will also feature:
In-Person, Digital & Asynchronous Audio Field Research
To supplement a needs assessment survey, which debuted at the Columbus Arts Festival, research teams will attend various community events and area commission meetings over the summer and into early fall to gather survey responses in-person, embracing a “meet them where they are” approach. The survey will be available via traditional paper and pencil, digitally through the project’s website takepartcolumbus.com, and in a new partnership with Orange Barrel Media, it will also be accessible on digital IKE kiosks throughout the city. “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” will also introduce asynchronous audio surveying as an experimental approach that aims to add incredible texture to the data and amplify the responses of individual community members in a unique and inclusive way. At various community events over the summer and into fall, participants will have the opportunity to listen to the survey questions in various languages and respond by recording their answers as voice notes.
The audio survey response gathering method ensures accessibility and inclusivity for participants who may have difficulty reading or writing, or who prefer to express themselves verbally. It also enables individuals to share their thoughts, opinions and experiences in their own voices, adding a personal and authentic dimension to the survey responses. Moreover, participants may complete the audio survey at their own pace and convenience with added flexibility to listen to the questions multiple times, reflect on their responses and record their answers when they feel ready to do so.
The audio survey responses will help the project team capture the nuances, emotions and intonations of participants, providing a deeper understanding of their perspectives and experiences. This approach allows a more comprehensive and inclusive representation of the community’s feedback, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. Ultimately, these valuable contributions will be considered alongside the paper and digital survey responses, enriching the overall data analysis and development of the public art plan.
Take pART Podcast
The project team will carefully analyze the audio survey responses collected via asynchronous audio, transcribing and extracting key themes and insights to be publicly shared through marketing and communication efforts and folded into a new podcast series called Take pART. This audio program will facilitate a public conversation amongst relevant stakeholders, including artists, arts organizations, city officials and citizens to discuss and shape the future of public art in the city. By highlighting the work of local artists, showcasing various public art installations and positioning them in dialogue with individual voices, Take pART seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation for public art and its potential to enrich the lives of our Columbus community members. The podcast will launch in late summer.
Community Roundtables
A series of eight collaborative and dynamic conversations with members of specific sectors and geographies will allow stakeholders to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue about public art, prioritizing the most relevant issues, opportunities and challenges that impact culture and public art in Columbus. Roundtables will take place roughly once a week from August to October.
Virtual Office Hours
Those seeking more information or updates on future public engagement events may sign up to attend virtual office hours hosted by Lord Cultural Resources, the global consulting firm providing support for this work, and held monthly on Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. EST via Zoom. The first office hours session will take place Wednesday, July 19.
Those seeking the survey or more information and updates on future public engagement events can find details on the website www.takepartcolumbus.com.
“Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” is a year-long initiative to create a roadmap for the future of public art in central Ohio. With a joint investment made by the City of Columbus and Franklin County, the project is led by Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) with support from Lord Cultural Resources, the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. This plan will create a blueprint for the next five to 10 years, strengthening the cultural infrastructure of greater Columbus by casting a bold vision to catalyze the creation of more public art alongside a strategy to facilitate its management and care.
About GCAC
The Greater Columbus Arts Council’s mission is to support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. GCAC funds artists and arts organizations in central Ohio, provides marketing services for artists and organizations through the ColumbusMakesArt.com event calendar, public art database and artist directory, and produces the annual Columbus Arts Festival. www.gcac.org
About Lord Cultural Resources
Lord Cultural Resources is the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. Since 1981, we have helped to create, plan, and operate cultural spaces and places in more than 460 cities, in 57 countries and six continents. www.lord.ca.
MAY 25, 2023
Greater Columbus Arts Council, City of Columbus and Franklin County Leaders Launch a Public Art Plan Initiative
“Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” Initiative to Launch at Columbus Arts Festival
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) presents “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.,” a year-long initiative to create a roadmap for the future of public art in the central Ohio region. With funding from the city of Columbus, Franklin County and GCAC, this will be the first comprehensive public art plan for the city and county. Columbus is the only city, of the 14 largest in the country, without a public art plan.
”Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” will lay out a blueprint for the next five to 10 years for strengthening the cultural infrastructure of greater Columbus by casting a bold vision to catalyze the creation of more public art. The plan will serve as a tool to guide communities in public art planning in the short and long term, with an emphasis on the equitable distribution of art in the public realm and diverse and inclusive representation of both artists and the communities they serve, ” said Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing for GCAC and spokesperson for the project.
"Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” will include an analysis and inventory of existing public art, robust stakeholder input, research to identify current and forecasted needs, both financial and programmatic, and implementation strategies.
The positive benefits of public art are numerous and well researched, including enhancing shared public spaces, beautifying and revitalizing the built environment, and improving the quality of life for residents. Municipal public art programs facilitate social cohesion and foster a deeper sense of belonging and place by emphasizing the unique character of communities, providing safe and welcoming spaces for people to gather, interact and create shared experiences. Public art also supports creative industries as well as tourism and others, serving the broader economic development goals of the city and county.
The planning process will prioritize the broadest possible engagement of stakeholders, beneficiaries, and audiences of public art, involving those who live, work, create, visit, play and learn in Columbus. This includes but is not limited to artists, art workers, arts organizations, residents, families, students, researchers, visitors, tourists, educators, youth advocates, business owners, real estate developers, government officials, nonprofits, community organizations, community organizers and thought leaders across disciplines.
In acknowledgement of the ambitious aim to champion diverse and numerous voices, particularly those from historically marginalized groups, the public engagement campaign, “TAKE PART—Greater Columbus. Greater ART.,” will feature a survey (launching June 5) to help measure current perceptions of and needs for public art, as well as prompt thoughtful reflections: Who should own public art? Who does it benefit? Who pays for it? What does public art mean to you? The survey will be promoted and available during the Columbus Arts Festival, June 9-11—a cultural highlight of the region that attracts nearly 500,000 attendees annually. The survey will remain open through the website www.takepartcolumbus.com for a minimum of four months to ensure the broadest possible representation. Additionally, GCAC is proud to announce a partnership with Orange Barrel Media to promote the survey via digital IKE kiosks throughout the city. Community events such as town hall meetings, sector workshops and activities and presence at existing cultural activities will also be organized to connect with the public and stakeholders in person.
GCAC, an organization dedicated to stewarding Columbus’ public funds for the arts for 50 years, will lead “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” in cooperation with the city of Columbus, Franklin County and the Columbus Art Commission and with support from professional consultancy Lord Cultural Resources and Columbus-based cultural practitioners Jonna Twigg and Marshall Shorts. A Steering Committee composed of representatives from local stakeholder groups will lend additional oversight and accountability for the planning process to ensure that key deliverables of the plan prioritize equity and access, both in terms of artists and cultural consumers. GCAC and its collaborators will present the final Greater Columbus Public Art Plan in summer 2024, which will mark a new era of advancement for public art in the region.
“There is no place like Columbus. This region is a champion for creative and cultural programs, diverse artists and communities and vivid creative expression. GCAC is excited for the opportunity to steward a new service model for improving the public realm through the arts. We commend the leadership of Mayor Ginther, Columbus City Council and the Franklin County Commissioners, whose advocacy and joint allyship have made this endeavor possible. This investment is both transformational and prescient, responding to a need for the built environment to facilitate deeper belonging and to act as a platform for human exchange and dialogue," said Goldstein. "We are committed to developing equitable strategies that consider the broad community impacts of public art as well as serve artists and the community as a whole. We encourage everyone to participate and help shape the future of public art in our neighborhoods and our community."
The website www.takepartcolumbus.com is the primary hub for information and updates about “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” It includes basic information and resources for stakeholders and the general public on how to participate in the process. Upcoming events will be added to a calendar of events in the following weeks.
Greater Columbus. Greater ART. Steering Committee
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Irene Alvarez, Leadership & Business Consultant and formerly COO, Columbus Partnership
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Michael Bongiorno, GCAC Board Member, Architect and Managing Principal/Design Director, AECOM
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Randy Borntrager, Assistant Director, Department of Public Service, City of Columbus
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Adam Brouillette, Principal, Blockfort Studios and Artist
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Curtis Brown, Community Partnerships Administrator, Office of Budget & Management, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
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Greg Corbin, Arts Leadership Consultant, Poet, Educator, former Nonprofit Executive
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Melanie Corn, President, Columbus College of Art & Design
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Jeff Edwards, Owner & Founder, Edwards Companies
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Stanley Gates, Director of Community Engagement, Columbus City Council
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David Guion, Executive Director, Dublin Arts Council
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Betty Hill, Supervisor of Arts & Physical Education, Columbus City Schools
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Lisa McLymont, Columbus Art Commissioner and Artist, Graphic Designer & Social Justice Advocate
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Bernita Reese, Director, Columbus Recreation & Parks
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Brian Suiter, Principal, RiverWest Partners
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Amy Taylor, President, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
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Shelbi Toone, Project Manager, Poindexter Village Museum & Cultural Center and Artist
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Merijn Vanderheijden, Columbus Art Commissioner and Director, Urban Arts Space and Hopkins Hall Gallery, Ohio State University
About GCAC
The Greater Columbus Arts Council’s mission is to support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. GCAC funds artists and arts organizations in central Ohio, provides marketing services for artists and organizations through the ColumbusMakesArt.com event calendar, public art database and artist directory, and produces the annual Columbus Arts Festival. www.gcac.org
About Lord Cultural Resources
Lord Cultural Resources is the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. Since 1981, we have helped to create, plan, and operate cultural spaces and places in more than 460 cities, in 57 countries and six continents. www.lord.ca.