Columbus Public Art Plan

Columbus, OH and Franklin County is one the fastest growing metropolitan statistical areas in the Midwest, and among the top across the country. From 2000-2021, the population increased by a third, adding more than 500,000 people. Columbus continues to gain national prominence as an accessible destination for tourists and business travelers alike Columbus also boasts an incredible array of cultural offerings, including world-class museums, vibrant and unique neighborhoods and areas of revitalization that have become hubs of cultural production. And yet, the lack of a comprehensive public art plan placed Columbus significantly behind its peer cities. It lagged as virtually the only major U.S. city without a well-rounded public art program at the municipal level or a percent for art funding mechanism, a national standard operating procedure for long-term investment of art in the public realm. Recognizing this, the City of Columbus and Franklin County partnered on an initiative to create the region’s first comprehensive plan for the future of public art.

The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) engaged Lord Cultural Resources to lead a planning process to rethink the way the City of Columbus and Franklin County communities are reflected in and through the built environment.

Our team led a planning process that included robust research, trends analysis, visioning and public engagement, and a cohesive plan for public art, including recommendations for priorities, governance models, guiding principles and themes. Lord was also in charge of creating all campaign print and digital assets including a website, which was fundamental in the outreach efforts of the plan.