Do you ever stop to think about public art?  We see it all of the time in Dallas, but how many of us are aware of the city’s Public Art Collection?

The Division of Arts Administration within the Meadows School of the Arts is working with the City of Dallas to conduct a survey on the City’s Collection of Public Art among Dallas residents and visitors.  The City’s Collection of Public Art includes over 300 works of art. 

Most of these public artworks are made by local and regional artists and are either commissioned or donated. 

In addition to the City’s collection of Public Art, there are many works of art in downtown Dallas that belong to private museums (such as the Nasher Sculpture Center) and office and residential buildings. Together these collections make downtown Dallas a great place to view art. 

 “The results of this survey will test the awareness, meaning and possible commitment to the City’s Collection of Public Art by people living in Dallas and Texas, as well as visitors to our city from the US and abroad,” said Elisabetta Lazzaro, assistant professor of cultural economics/policy and marketing the arts from the Division of Arts Administration at SMU.  

“In collaboration with the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the Division of Arts Administration has designed and distributed a survey. This is part of a broader and longer-lasting research project within the Division of Arts Administration, Meadows School of the Arts, in collaboration with Dallas arts organizations, aiming to assess the socio-economic impact of the arts and culture in Dallas,” Lazarro said.  

The joint effort by the City’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Division of Arts Administration at SMU comes as a result of the reduced availability of public funds and increased competition with other sources of public expenditure. Ultimately, the Public Art Program seeks to gain higher visibility and acquaintance among citizens through a series of measures.