Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2025

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more passive bronze and stone memorials of the past. Capturing the uniqueness of a site can make the "meaning of places accessible to the people" (Flemming and von Tschamer 1981) by depicting various images related to the town's development over time and creating a sense of belonging for current residents. Developing this type of historical civic identity helps people understand where they came from, as well as projecting an external image (McCarthy 2006). 2.5 Public Art and Cross-sector Collaboration The high visibility, cost, and political sensitivity of public art projects broadly engage public, private, and non-profit sectors. For example, the physical space that a public art installation occupies may be either public or private, but design and regulatory approval require action by local planning and zoning authorities. Other, non-profit interests (such as, local arts organizations or educational institutions) may initiate, advocate, or fund the work. In addition, the political debate that occurs around many public art projects, and their physical stature within the community, attract the attention of the general public scrutiny, the members of which fulfill the role of consumers and critics of the art installation. Public art projects are an example of the type of initiative rarely implemented by purely government or market forces alone. At times, the public can be shut-out of art process by a well- meaning art community that is perceived as arrogant and imposing, creating inaccessible works that only those with an understanding of classic art theory might appreciate. Government policy initiatives may provide percent for art programs, municipal design requirements, and government grant programs that will often play a key role in creating and sustaining public art in collaboration with private and non-profit agencies. It is this collection of partnerships between 61