Public art is most commonly associated with a sculpture or painting in areas accessible or visible to the public, but it can and does go well beyond those media. Terrazzo floors, etched glass, ceiling panels, textiles, stair railings, risers, pavers, planters, landscape, fences and grates are just some of the possibilities for public art contributions to public spaces. The possibilities are as vast as the imaginations of artists and architects.
In 1985, the Legislature passed the Utah Percent-for-Art Act (Utah Code Title 9, Chapter 6, Sections 401-409), which designates 1% of construction costs of new and/or renovated state public buildings is added to the project for the purpose of commissioning, maintaining and conserving site specific art at, on, or in the facility. The collection includes a broad range of media from textiles and glass to stone and metal monumental works.
Public Art Collection
There are over 200 pieces in the Utah Public Art Collection, all created since 1985. Look here to find out what public art is in your community.
Find out about local, regional, national and international calls for public arts commissions.
Projects in Process
View the latest public art commissions in process.
Several municipalities and agencies throughout Utah have public arts programs and offer commissions to artists. You can also find links to information on public art programs and how they enrich communities.
Public Art Image Bank
The Public Art Program maintains a bank of slides of artist's work from all over Utah and the United States. The slide bank of artists interested in public art projects in Utah may be used by State agencies, corporations, and/or individuals when an artist's services are required for design or public art projects. Any visual artist may be included in the Utah Public Art Program slide bank and will be automatically added to the mailing list to receive requests for qualifications and/or proposals for new Utah projects. Download the application to submit your information.
The Creative Communities Initiative includes a grant to support the creation of innovative connections between culture, art, community building, civic engagement, community planning and use of public space for enhancement of economic opportunities and quality of life in Utah's communities.
Creative Communities is not currently funded by the Utah Legislature.