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Public Art
"Reach for the Stars Mural,"
Artist: Scott Tobin.
Location: Rear wall of Dan’s Tire Service, 355 Spedding Court
(completed in 2007) |
Public art is about more than beautification. Public art stimulates, entertains, instructs and, occasionally, provokes its audience. Endlessly diverse and adaptable, public art can engage us from above our heads or under our feet. Direct contact between art and visitor in an open space, free of gallery walls, is public art’s greatest gift and this gift is best enjoyed when we shed our routine expectations of urban space.
Public art, like other art forms, continues to evolve. No longer confined to monumental sculptures in prominent locations, contemporary public art inspires new perspectives of, and interactions with, public places. Artists provide unique interpretations of sites and play a key role in engaging the public's imagination. Audiences and communities are becoming active participants in the public art process by voicing a diversity of local concerns and stories and occasionally lending many hands to the creation of the work itself.
Kelowna's Public Art Program
The Public Art Program was established by resolution of Council in 1997 and is overseen by the Public Art Committee. Today, Kelowna boasts more than 60 public art pieces located throughout our community, ranging from acrylic paintings to large, site-specific sculptural installations.
For more information, view the collection online or pick up copy of the Public Art Brochure . Printed copies can be found at various cultural venues and public properties in Kelowna.
Community Public Art
Community Public Art is a unique component of the City’s Public Art Program. A collaborative, collective and creative process between a professional practicing artist and a community, Community Public Art encourages the creation of publicly accessible artworks, fosters community pride and identity, and reflects the diversity of the community. It is as much about process as it is about the artistic product or outcome. Through the creative process the community can creatively express its needs and aspirations.
Annually, a total of $15,000 is available from the Public Art Reserve Fund for Community Public Art Grants. Non-profit organizations that operate within Kelowna are eligible to apply for a Community Public Art Grant. Visit the Cultural Grants page for application information.
Contact Us
Patrick McCormick
Public Art Coordinator
Tel 250 469-8605
pmccormick@kelowna.ca
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