Art In The Community

Public art is increasingly about artists and communities working together to create artworks relevant to their neighbourhoods.

The scope of public art is also broadening. You can now see creative street furniture including seating, rubbish bins, bus shelters, drinking fountains, tree grilles, barrier rails, street signage and children’s playgrounds. Creative design can also be incorporated in other public works such as entrances, pavements, buildings, and even old walls and fences.

What are the positive spin- offs of public art?

Incorporating art into a project can:

• Improve the appearance of an area;
• Provide interesting features and locations for recreation and leisure;
• Signify an important development and reflect the desire for a quality project;
• Add to local cultural heritage;
• Enhance people’s understanding and enjoyment of their environment;
• Strengthen the identity of individual streets and communities.

Every member of a community can enjoy the benefits resulting from public artworks.

Art in streets - opportunities for the Charleston neighbourhood

Charleston has a rich heritage and unique character that could be enhanced by using public art projects. Any past or existing story or feature of the Charleston area could be included in a theme or brief for an arts project, for example, the nurseryman William Wilson, Te Waipounamu Maori Girls’ College, the sports stadium or the character homes that exist in the area. Planned with imagination and sensitivity, a public art project incorporated into Council capital works projects, for example street furniture, could be an exciting addition to the Charleston Neighbourhood Plan.

Contact: Rhonda Thomson
Ph: 941 6413