GCAC presents Art in Public Places strategy recommending percent-for-art, seed funding and new governance

Representatives of GCAC and city planning staff presented a proposed Art in Public Places (AIPP) strategy to the Columbus Art Commission on June 18, 2025, recommending a GCAC-led program funded initially with $500,000 a year for five years and a paid AIPP director position. GCAC representatives described a program that would use public and private sources and asked the commission to help align approval criteria and public engagement processes across city and county partners.

Why it matters: the plan would create a standing program and governance structure to commission and manage public art in Columbus, establish project-level selection teams and an AIPP advisory committee, and recommend options such as a percent-for-art ordinance tied to capital projects. GCAC representatives and city staff said the plan is intended to increase public art across neighborhoods while building processes for selection, maintenance planning and community engagement.

GCAC presenters said the nonprofit has committed seed funding that would cover an AIPP director salary and initial project funds. Maria Rivera of the strategy team said GCAC has committed $500,000 a year for five years and will pay the AIPP director salary from that…