Public Art Essay
Recently, there has been much debate over government funding of public art in this town,
following the proposed sculpture for the town center. In order to advise city council on its
decision, I have researched both the advantages and disadvantages of government funded public
art. I have come to the conclusion that the city council should finance public art in this town
because it gives the government control over what is displayed in public spaces, and brings
revenue to the city.
One benefit of publicly funded public art is that it ensures that the content of public art
best reflects community and government values. An example of how government funded art has
allowed the government to positively influence the message of public art is the mural program in
Philadelphia. This program has enabled “graffiti writers to use and develop their talents for
constructive rather than destructive purposes” (Source #1). In this situation, the Philadelphia
government was able to not only beautify the city through the creation of murals, but combat the
issue of graffiti. By transforming graffiti artists into muralists, Philadelphia’s government was
able to ensure that public spaces visually represented community ethics. Rather than graffiti, the
public now saw aesthetically pleasing murals; this sent the message that Philadelphia’s
government cared about enhancing the lives of its citizens and the community environment.
While some might argue that government funding inhibits an artist’s creativity and freedom of
expression, when the government has a role in deciding the content of public art, it prevents
controversy and ensures the acceptance of public artwork by the community. When a piece of art
is public, it is crucial that it represents the views of the majority of the people. Thus, it is not the
government’s role to give complete artistic freedom but rather to ensure that the content of the
artwork is appropriate and well-received by the community. Government funding of public art
will control content and verify that it properly represents community values.
Another benefit of government financed public art is that it generates income for the city.
In cities around the world, public works of art serve as more than just art; they draw in travelers
from across the globe to visit and enjoy their beauty. For example, in 1967, the Chicago Public
Building Commission funded a Picasso sculpture that became “a symbol of the city” (Source
#3). This Picasso sculpture is an example of how public art often transcends its basic role of
enriching the city’s environment, and becomes a marketable icon. Public art is a simple way to
put a recognizable face to a city, and thus can be used to attract tourists, bringing in revenue for
various businesses. Furthermore, this could motivate people to come to a city as permanent
residents, either because of the aesthetic pleasure of living in a city with public art or the stronger
economy as a result of tourism. All of this ultimately creates more earnings for the government.
Although the Picasso sculpture was initially rejected by Chicagoans, it was in fact popularized
through numerous replicas, and “the name-brand quality of the sculpture inspired other
commissions” (Source #3). Not only did the sale of these replicas support the city’s economy and
foster public acceptance - that would later generate even more profit for the city - it served as
encouragement for other artists to contribute their works to Chicago. These pieces would go on
to produce income for the city in the same way which the Picasso did; in short, public art is an
effective way to continuously boost the economy of a city. Thus, government funding for public
art is a shrewd move on the part of the city as it will be financially profitable for the city for
years to come.
It is in the city council’s best interest to publicly fund the public art in this town, as it will
give the government more influence over the content of public art, and generate revenue for the
city. If the proposed sculpture is government funded, this town and its government will benefit.
Thank you for your consideration.