INSIGHTS FROM THE FIELD: Driving for Equitable Change in Public Art
Reimagining Public Art: Examining Policies, Practices, Commissioning, and Collections
For over 40 years, Forecast has been a catalyst, harnessing the radical imaginations of artists, courageous advocacy of leaders, and practical, effective solutions that draw from deep knowledge in communities. As a public art leader, we recognize the persistent problems of systemic racism, cultural appropriation, land grabs, art-washing, public art deserts, unethical community engagement practices, and systemic funding and policy barriers. These issues hinder fair representation of BIPOC artists and communities in our country's public art. We also believe that public art can and will be one of the most powerful tools of our time to inspire healing, rebuilding, and reconciliation. Public art is a method to uplift and amplify the stories and histories of BIPOC communities, rural communities, and Native Nations.
The time is long overdue to reckon with systemic racism and inequities in our country’s public art. To address our collective trauma, we must reimagine our public art and monument policies, practices, commissioning, and collections. This country spends millions of dollars every year on over 700 public art programs. A more equitable public art field can be a powerful force, bringing both joy and justice. Together, we can reimagine our collective narrative and center the leadership, voices, and creativity of BIPOC communities.
As our team works on the ground with leaders nationwide, we’ve been driving major shifts in the field of public art that center Black, brown and Indigenous peoples. We asked four of our partners on projects in San Francisco, St. Louis Park, Louisville, and Red Wing about the change they want to see in themselves and their communities, and how Forecast’s team is helping them move toward those goals.
- San Francisco, California: Advancing Policy for Monuments & Memorials
- St. Louis Park, Minnesota: Collecting Data to Drive Transparency & Accountability
- Louisville, Kentucky: Diversifying the Public Art Workforce
- Red Wing, Minnesota: Moving Beyond Land Acknowledgments
Continue reading to hear from our partners and learn more about our work across the country, and how we, and others, are driving change.
Forecast facilitated San Francisco’s Monuments and Memorials Advisory Committee to review its collection from a stance of racial equity. Hear about the process from Mary Chou, Director, Public Art and Collections, San Francisco Arts Commission.
The City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota asked Forecast to conduct an equity audit of its public art collection. Sean Walther, City of St. Louis Park Planning Manager, considers what the audit revealed.
Making It Public, Forecast’s most sought-after training, makes professional development a key equity focus and provides tracks for both artists and administrators. Dr. Jabani Bennett is both. An artist, arts advocate, and consultant based in Louisville, Kentucky, Bennett completed Making It Public in 2021.
Recently, Forecast developed an arts and culture plan for the city of Red Wing, Minnesota in collaboration with the city's arts and culture commission and the Prairie Island Indian Community. Nicky Buck, an enrolled Tribal member of Prairie Island, has been essential in building the relationship between Red Wing and Prairie Island.