Art on High Strategic Plan and Artist Selection

Columbus, Ohio

Why

In 2010, the City of Columbus dedicated $25 million to the High Street Streetscape Project which will transform both the Short North Arts District and the southern University District portions of High Street, one of the busiest corridors in Columbus.

The streetscape improvements will create a safer, more walkable and more inclusive neighborhood by burying overhead utilities, increasing sidewalk widths, standardizing streetscape elements, upgrading lighting, adding marked crosswalks, improving stormwater management, and adding new street trees. In addition 2% of the total project budget has been dedicated to an investment in public art within the streetscape project.

How

Designing Local advised the City of Columbus as it planned for its anticipated investment, and managed a consultant team of three additional consultants; MKSK, Kolar Design, and curator Marc Pally. Through extensive public engagement and a thorough understanding of the existing and future built environment.

Designing Local selected eight ideal locations within the two mile stretch of streetscape. Each location was vetted by Columbus Department of Public Service and the design team to ensure future investment in those selected locations would be suitable for public art.

What

The team held three public meetings, monthly walkabouts, and conducted extensive stakeholder interviews. Accepted by the Columbus Arts Commission and project partners in January of 2018, the Art on High Strategic Plan provided direction and a community-wide vision for how public art can be integrated into the corridor and how this initial investment will be used to catalyze investment in public art within the corridor in the future.

Designing Local was hired to complete Phase 2 of Art on High which included management of a $420,000.00 call for artists. A national caliber artist was selected and implementation of the artwork will be complete in 2020.

Client

City of Columbus

Team

Designing Local (Lead)

MKSK

Kolar Design

Mark Pally

Services

Public Art Planning

Public Engagement

People

Amanda Golden (Lead)

Josh Lapp