COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an ongoing effort to increase awareness of the diverse mix of public art in Columbus and across the state, the Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) has created a searchable database of public art on ColumbusMakesArt.com.
The new database presents a listing of public artwork around Columbus that users can visit, and recommends other artwork and events nearby. There are more than 800 pieces at nearly 350 sites in Franklin County. The combined statewide database of arts and cultural events, as well as public artwork, is the only one of its kind in the country.
“Columbus has public art, and while our programs and support for public art could be stronger, we believe that to make progress, we really need to help people see what’s already here,” said Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing for the Greater Columbus Arts Council. “I think people will be delighted at what they can discover through this new resource, and it will help us to move forward in a thoughtful way about which neighborhoods need more public art and broadening the diversity of artists represented.”
In addition, a statewide database of public art is now available on ArtsInOhio.com, making it easier for the public to find sculptures, murals, historic theaters, installations and other public art enhancing communities large and small across the buckeye state. The statewide database is a work in progress with more artwork added every day.
Both sites are free to the public, contain no advertising and are produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and supported by the Ohio Arts Council and public art collections across the state. Contributors to the databases to date include collections held by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, City of Columbus, Dublin Arts Council, City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Department, City of Kettering, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Licking County Foundation, Ohio Arts Council’s Percent for Art program, Short North Arts District and the City of Sandusky. The database was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Research and development support is provided by Designing Local, OSA Technology Partners and Columbus artist Stephanie Rond.
The Arts In Ohio partnership consists of CincinnatiUSA, Destination Cleveland, Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Council.
The Greater Columbus Arts Council is supported by the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council. The Columbus Makes Art campaign is a citywide, collaborative marketing effort designed to highlight the incredible talent of central Ohio artists. columbusmakesart.com
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
# # #
CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
