STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: PUBLIC ARTS IN PUBLIC PARKS

We’re nesting the arts in Armstrong Park. #ArtsInOurPark

For more information, contact Ron Thompson at (575) 425-0914‬ or email ron@artsinourpark.org

Public parks serve as open, accessible environments that increasingly host arts programming and installations. These include temporary and permanent interventions such as murals, sculpture, performances, festivals, and other cultural expressions. The strategic placement of art in parks intersects with community cohesion, health outcomes, cultural equity, economic development, and public space planning.

Areas of Public Interest

1. Community Engagement & Cohesion

  • Place-based art has been associated with increased neighborhood pride and social connection.

  • Participatory projects such as murals and concerts provide structured opportunities for public involvement.

  • Public art has been used as a mechanism to facilitate interaction across demographic groups.

2. Public Health & Mental Wellness

  • Research studies have observed reduced stress and anxiety following exposure to public art installations.

  • Creative enhancements to park space have been linked to increased physical activity and usage.

  • Engagement with art in public settings has been correlated with positive mood and decreased isolation.

3. Cultural Equity & Access

  • Public art in parks does not require admission fees and is accessible to the general public.

  • Municipal programs have used park-based art to increase cultural representation in underserved neighborhoods.

  • Temporary and mobile installations are used to address geographic inequities in access to the arts.

4. Urban Revitalization & Placemaking

  • Art has been incorporated into park redevelopment strategies.

  • Installations and events have been used to increase visibility and perceived safety of public spaces.

  • Specific works have become identifiers for neighborhoods and are used in civic branding.

5. Economic Impact & Tourism

  • Cultural programming in parks has been associated with increased visitor traffic.

  • Studies have documented economic activity generated by art festivals and public installations.

  • Arts-related employment includes roles in design, fabrication, and event production.

6. Policy & Strategy

  • Percent-for-Art ordinances allocate a portion of capital improvement budgets for public art.

  • Public-private partnerships are used to fund cultural programming in parks.

  • City cultural plans increasingly include guidelines for the inclusion of art in park planning.

7. Environmental & Spatial Design

  • Some public artworks use recycled or locally sourced materials.

  • Installations are sometimes designed to provide shade, seating, or environmental education.

  • Site planning considers impact on ecosystems, access, and visibility within park environments.