SERVICES / PROJECTS
Art transforms spaces, engages communities, and creates lasting cultural legacies.
As your dedicated guide to public art, we provide comprehensive solutions that simplify the complex process of bringing impactful public art to life
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Program Development & Policy Consulting
Creating frameworks that set your initiative up for long-term success.
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Project Management & Implementation
Hands-on management from planning through artist selection, advisory support through installation.
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Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy
Building community support and internal buy-in for your vision.
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Collection Management & Conservation Planning
Protecting your investment with proper care and documentation.
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Training & Capacity Building
Empowering your team with knowledge and tools for ongoing success.
Challenge: Many organizations struggle with creating sustainable public art programs that balance artistic excellence, community needs, and practical implementation.
Solution: We develop customized frameworks, policies, and governance structures tailored to your specific context, ensuring your public art program has a solid foundation for long-term success.
Process:
Assessment of current practices and organizational goals
Stakeholder interviews and best practices research
Development of customized policies and funding mechanisms
Creation of governance structures and evaluation frameworks
Deliverables:
Comprehensive public art ordinances and policies
Sustainable funding mechanism recommendations
Committee/advisory board structure designs
Program evaluation metrics and frameworks
Project Examples:
Omaha, Nebraska: Drafted percent-for-art ordinance, TIF policy, and lodging tax updates that successfully integrated public art planning into the city's comprehensive plan
Las Vegas Public Art Master Plan: Coordinated citywide master plan update incorporating feedback from stakeholders, officials, and staff to expand program relevance
Taos, New Mexico: Researched implementation guidelines for wayfinding systems and public art integration in historic areas
Challenge: The path from concept to completed public art installation is complex, involving multiple stakeholders, technical considerations, and administrative hurdles.
Solution: We provide hands-on management from planning through artist selection, with continued advisory support through installation, ensuring professional oversight during the most critical phases.
Process:
Project scope and timeline development
RFQ/RFP creation and distribution
Artist selection process management and jury facilitation
Advisory support during fabrication and installation
Deliverables:
Comprehensive project timelines with milestone tracking
Professional artist selection materials and process facilitation
Budget management frameworks and cost control strategies
Implementation advisory support throughout the installation process
Project Examples:
San José Public Art Program: Created RFPs and organized selection committees for multiple permanent and temporary public art projects
Jorge and Darlene Pérez Prize in Public Art and Civic Design: Developed annual $30,000 award program recognizing excellence in public art and civic design integration
JoeSam Mural Restoration: Oversaw complete restoration of two-story metal and acrylic mural in collaboration with artist and private partners
Challenge: Public art projects often face resistance due to lack of community buy-in, competing priorities, or insufficient understanding of art's value to communities.
Solution: We develop engagement strategies that build genuine community investment in public art outcomes while providing advocacy tools that help you articulate public art's value to diverse stakeholders.
Process:
Community assessment and engagement planning
Design and facilitation of public workshops
Development of communication materials and talking points
Training for internal advocates and community champions
Deliverables:
Customized community engagement strategies
Workshop facilitation and feedback collection tools
Communication materials and advocacy toolkits
Internal advocacy training for staff and leadership
Project Examples:
Smart Growth America Partnership: Delivered community trainings in Buffalo, Bozeman, and Mariposa County on using creative placemaking for transportation solutions
Ulster County Agricultural Districts: Identified artists and completed research to help communicate agricultural district benefits to local farmers and businesses
Public Art Network: Facilitated online community of 1000+ professionals and managed monthly newsletter reaching 1300+ members with 30% open rate
Challenge: Without proper systems for documentation, maintenance, and conservation, public art collections deteriorate over time, resulting in lost cultural assets and wasted investment.
Solution: We establish comprehensive collection management frameworks that protect your investment through systematic inventory, condition assessment, and conservation planning.
Process:
Collection inventory and documentation assessment
Condition evaluation and priority identification
Maintenance planning and budgeting framework development
Conservation vendor identification and management systems
Deliverables:
Comprehensive inventory and documentation systems
Condition assessment protocols and reporting tools
Maintenance schedules and budgeting frameworks
Deaccession policy development and guidelines
Project Examples:
Prince George's County Parks: Created collection management policies for public art and visual arts collections, plus facilitated two-day cross-departmental training
San José Collection Assessment: Developed ongoing assessment protocols for 250+ artwork collection, creating annual conservation plans and budgets
Mel Chin Artwork Maintenance: Trained volunteers to assist in maintenance of 30+ site-specific artworks at San José/San José State University Library
Challenge: Many organizations lack the internal expertise to sustain public art programs, leading to dependency on external consultants or program deterioration over time.
Solution: We provide customized training and knowledge transfer systems that build institutional expertise, empowering your team to manage public art programs with confidence and skill.
Process:
Assessment of current capacity and knowledge gaps
Development of customized training programs
Creation of ongoing resource libraries and toolkits
Implementation of mentorship and knowledge transfer systems
Deliverables:
Customized workshops and training sessions
Program management toolkits and resources
Mentorship programs for emerging administrators
Evaluation frameworks for continuous improvement
Project Examples:
National Public Art Conference: Curated five years of the nation's premier annual public art conference, fostering knowledge-sharing among hundreds of professionals
Virtual Training Series: Created comprehensive online trainings covering street art, monuments, legal issues, deaccessioning, and crowdfunding for public art professionals
Municipal Arts Alliance Evaluation: Evaluated professional development cohort of municipal arts leaders in Northwest Arkansas funded by the Walmart Foundation
What to Expect
Discovery Conversation
We start with a thorough discussion of your specific situation, goals, and constraints. No high-pressure sales—just an honest assessment of how we can best support your success.
Collaborative Planning
Together, we'll develop a customized approach that fits your timeline, budget, and organizational capacity. You'll have clear deliverables, realistic timelines, and regular check-ins.
Flexible Support
Whether you need comprehensive program development or targeted help with specific challenges, we adapt our level of involvement to match what you actually need.
Responsive Communication
You'll always know where we stand. We provide regular updates, respond promptly to questions, and adjust our approach as needed based on what's working.
Knowledge Transfer
Rather than keeping you dependent on our expertise, we ensure you and your team gain the confidence and tools needed to manage future initiatives independently.
Practical Guidance
Every recommendation comes with implementation steps you can actually take. We focus on solutions that work within your real-world constraints, not theoretical ideals.