The Social and Economic Impacts of Public Art: Connections, Complexity, and Possibilities

Emily Kay Goodrum

The existence of art in society holds extensive historical contexts and importance, and the impact of the entity still persists. Over time, different art forms and genres have evolved and manifested. Public art which exists within smaller, more urban communities is a contemporary class of art which plays an integral role in society. In a study conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, the social and economic implications of public art are examined through a qualitative analyses of a case study of a media art event, Aurora, the author draws concrete conclusions of how public art and art related events directly impact a community both socially and economically. Initially a smaller, more intimate event which celebrated the local art scene in Downtown Dallas, Aurora is now a widely popular event which attracts crowds of 50,000 (Goodrum). This annual event has fostered a sense of pride and motivation for Dallas based artists, promoting the production of art within the area. This study highlights a contemporary example of how public art transcends a mere pass time for local artists, and how public art events and projects can bring together communities as well as allow communities to benefit from revenue and tourism. Read the whole study here.