University District Arts and Character Plan

Columbus, Ohio

Why

Time and change aren’t just words in the Ohio State alma-mater, they are words that define the spirit of life in the University District. As the ever evolving place transitions into a new era, long term residents and businesses want to ensure that the spirit of the community lives on for the next generation.

New buildings and new residents provide new opportunities for patrons to engage with the arts and for public art opportunities. It was all these ideas that spurned the neighborhood and the University District Organization into action to ensure that their thoughts and ideas were integrated into a vision for the future.

How

A diverse community necessitates diverse engagement. In the University District this meant specifically engaging with the various artists and performers in the district through targeted workshops. Music, Visual Arts, Culture and History were each the subject of a separate workshop hosted a targeted venues, such as music or poetry venues.

Additionally residents, students and all those who care about the neighborhood contributed online and in person with ideas to inject the spirit of the neighborhood into its built environment.

What

The University District Arts and Character Plan yielded targeted recommendations to add public art to the neighborhood as well as bolster existing performing arts and music venues. A ‘Music Trail’ concept modeled on other successful marketing efforts but with an artistic twist will help to drive attendance to existing music venues.
Additional specific recommendations include specific locations and art pieces to be added throughout the neighborhood as well as possible future art trails and instillations.

Client

University District Organization

Team

Designing Local (Lead)

MKSK

Services

Placemaking

Cultural Planning

Urban Design

Public Engagement

People

Josh Lapp (Lead)

Amanda Golden