ART + DESIGN IN PUBLIC PLACES
The Works International Visual Arts Society provides executive directorship for The Art & Design in Public Places. The Places was launched in 1999 as a community based, multi-partner initiative designed to help revitalize Edmonton's downtown through placement of publicly funded works of art. The permanent public works of art below have been developed through local, provincial and national calls to enter.
The Goal of The Art & Design in Public Places Program (The Places) is to plan, develop and site art and design in downtown Edmonton to raise the profile and livability of the area, thereby increasing the attractiveness of downtown locations for business, residents and tourists.
The Vision “The vision of many different people working together toward common goals is catching on,” says Eric Newell, Honourary Lifetime Member of the Edmonton Business Council for the Visual Arts. “And, as we continue to move forward, it’s become obvious that the benefits of the Art & Design In Public Places Program will be widely shared and will last for generations.”
We Aim To:
• Help create a downtown where people want to live and work
• Directly and indirectly create employment, a larger tax base, and other economic benefits
• Foster a more tightly knit sense of community
• Develop and sustain partnerships with the private sector and improve the overall business environment
Our Objective is to:
• The completion of art/design projects each year
• Review a substantial number of proposals submitted by artists and designers every year
• Contribute to increased resident and tourist traffic in the Edmonton area
• Contributes to lower commercial vacancy rates in the downtown area building a more active small business community
• The Places used as a model by Edmonton areas outside the downtown
Our Partners:
Founding and Ongoing Partners: City of Edmonton, Edmonton Downtown Business Association, Edmonton Business Council for Visual Arts, and The Works International Visual Arts Society.
Sponsoring Partners, Special Projects to 2018: City of Edmonton, Government of Canada, Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton Public Library, Edmonton Centennial 2004, EPCOR 2004, TELUS 2004, Edmonton Journal 2004, Syncrude Canada Ltd., Alberta Foundation for the Arts 2005, Allen Family Fund, Carol A. Gouin Fund, Edmonton Community Foundation, Edmonton Community Lottery Board, City of Edmonton Emergency Response Department, Asset Management and Public Works-Parks, Downtown Business Association, Edmonton Arts Council, TELUS Edmonton Community Board, ATB Financial, Enbridge Pipelines Inc., Edmonton Destination Hotels Downtown, Oxford Properties Group, Morguard Investments Limited, Ogilvie LLP and Ducor Development Corporation, EPCOR 2008, Arttec Advertising Ltd., Alberta Sign Association, Hokanson Capital Inc., Canada 150 - Government of Canada, Alberta Foundation for the Arts 2017, City of Edmonton 2017, Downtown Business Association 2017.
Associate Partners: DDB Canada, Finning (Canada), West Fraser Mills Ltd., Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Century Vallen, TransAlta.
Key Supporting Partners: Chieftain International, Oxford Properties Group, City of Edmonton Departments: Community Services; Neighbourhood Park Development; Planning & Development; Sustainable Development; Neighbourhood Revitalization; Asset Management & Public Works; Transportation; Edmonton Transit Systems.
Contributing Partners: North American Construction Group, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.
Community Partners: Edmonton Arts Council, Action Electrical, Boys & Girls Clubs of Edmonton, City of Edmonton Youth Council, Delcor Painting and Flooring, Howard House Bridges Program, I-Human Youth Society, Landale Signs & Neon, McCauley Community League, Rozsa Foundation, United Nations Association in Canada and the Muttart Conservatory, Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre, ASSIST Community Services Centre, Winter City Edmonton, Skyline Sign Services Ltd., Artifacts (David & Jeong-Ae Lalonde).