Columbus seeks to boost business through art
COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — By year's end, the Greater Columbus Arts Council will release a public art plan to use art to stimulate the economy and keep young artists in Columbus.
Columbus is the last of the 14 largest cities in the United States without a public art plan. But once it's in place, there is anticipation it will have a significant impact on central Ohio.
Jami Goldstein with the Greater Columbus Arts Council said its partnership with Franklin County is laying out a blueprint for the next five to ten years, highlighting how investing more funding in public art like murals and mixed media all around the city could make a financial difference.
"They contribute to the economy," Goldstein said. "They are often the jewel of a city's tourism program. Philadelphia, Chicago, there are a number of other cities that we looked at that are really good examples of this. That means tourism dollars into the city because of the public art that's available."
Once the plan is put into action in January, there will be a set budget coming from GCAC, the city of Columbus and Franklin County to give grant money to artists to do more work.
"We will provide more resources to Columbus-based artists, neighborhoods, property owners and we really hope to be that that out of this plan," Goldstein said. "We will have a single point of entry for anyone wanting to do more public art."
Local artist Adam Brouillette said the plan also acts as an incentive for young artists to stay in central Ohio to continue their careers.
"Public art plans do draw more artists to their area, do draw more interest in the area that those efforts that the artists are putting forth are amplified and have a chance to make a greater impact on economic situations, on neighborhood quality of life," Brouillette said.
He knows there is a big benefit to installing a plan like this, most notably the effect it will have on people in the community.
"I think that creating vibrancy in a neighborhood or creating vibrancy in an area that you're part of is something that everybody can enjoy and that's one of the benefits of it," Brouillette said.
The GCAC also conducted a survey of more 2,000 people throughout Franklin County, with 95% of respondents saying there should be increased investments in public art.
"The arts have proven themselves to create benefit back to the community every time that they're invested in," Brouillette said. "I'd argue that artists actually work harder, you know, per dollar that's put in, you're going to get more return to you than a lot of those other things."
