By Martha McGee, CEO and co-founder of NINE dot ARTS
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Creative placemaking and public art have emerged as transformative tools for improving both community wellbeing and economic prosperity. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, public art has proven to stimulate workforce development, enhance property values, and grow tourism revenue for cities across the US and beyond. But such benefits aren’t realized through haphazard efforts or last minute installations.
To reap the economic benefits of a coordinated public art program, public and private developments must 1) plan and budget for art early on, 2) include the community in art visioning and conception, and 3) ensure forthcoming installations are integrated with surrounding architecture, design, and the overall context of the site. These are the pillars of creative placemaking and can make all the difference when it comes to producing positive social and economic benefits for communities nationwide.
Early Art Planning
As a national art consulting and creative placemaking firm that’s worked with hundreds of public and private sector clients, NINE dot ARTS recommends planning and budgeting for art as early as possible - or at least when the project reaches 60% schematic design. This provides a rough layout of construction features to be able to identify and prioritize space for bold, iconic artwork that would be impossible anywhere else.
For example, at Denver’s famous mixed-use micro-district, The Dairy Block, our team was brought in nearly four years prior to construction to help budget and build for a structurally sound ceiling that would hold the weight of a 500-lb hanging hand sculpture by Andrew Ramiro Tirado for The Maven Hotel, which can be seen from passersby on the street. We also curated Collin Parson’s mirror installation in the public alleyway to help reflect, expand, and brighten the space, as well as act as the “skin of the building” such that developers didn’t have to purchase a second finish. The art is the exterior - on top of being a memorable differentiator for the project.
These two art installations have become some of the most photographed in Denver, contributing to the Dairy Block’s social and economic success, as noted by accolades such as a ULI Americas Award for Excellence (2021) and a Denver Mayor’s Design Award (2018), among others.
Community Involvement
Another benefit of early art integration is that it allows the necessary time and care for meaningful community involvement. At the Dairy Block, this took the form of creative partnerships with hundreds of local artists and organizations, including the Colorado Crush Mural Festival and Lighthouse Writers Workshop Program. Additionally, artist Nikki Pike worked with members of the Colorado Symphony to commission custom music compositions for her Musical Churns installation in the alleyway. Visitors can turn her ornately designed bronze churns and hear the beautiful melody of the symphony accompanied by captivating LED lights.
Altogether, community involvement in the alley’s public art program resulted in a vibrant urban destination where people want to be. Where ongoing events, programs, and creative pop-ups attract locals and tourists to the area. And where the alley’s immersive installations contribute to increased foot traffic, marketability, and on-site spending for nearby businesses.
Contextual Integration
Another critical pillar of creative placemaking is to ensure artwork feels cohesive with a project’s overall vision, architecture, and design, as well as its historic, current, and future contexts. And this is no small feat. Accomplishing such seamless integration takes early planning, budgeting, and community input to capture the story and theme of the surrounding place.
At The Dairy Block, that theme resulted in a visual story of “the maker,” where art installations pay homage to the area’s legacy in thoughtful craftsmanship as the site of the historic Windsor Dairy Plant. Placed strategically in high-traffic and community-centric areas, the art program spans the micro-district’s public alley, hotel, restaurant, and offices, taking visitors on an intriguing journey while amplifying the development’s thoughtful architecture and design.
Altogether, places with an active arts and cultural scene are shown to have a stronger, more resilient economy. And places like The Dairy Block demonstrate how - through early art planning, community involvement, and thoughtful architectural and design integration. These are the pillars of creative placemaking that not only produce greater social cohesion and civic pride, but help increase the economic impact of projects in the built environment.