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Freeport arts commissioner highlights debut downtown sculpture walk and AutoCast audio tour
Summary
The Arts & Culture Commission reviewed Freeport’s first downtown sculpture walk (Sept. 2025): seven sculptures along Chicago Avenue, 31 submissions by 22 artists, and a free AutoCast audio tour funded in part by Cornerstone Credit Union and an Illinois Arts Council Catalyst grant.
Commissioner Jessica Monica, representing the Freeport Art Museum and the Arts & Culture Commission, told the City Council the city’s first downtown sculpture walk — installed in September 2025 — placed seven sculptures along Chicago Avenue from Douglas Street to Spring Street and was designed to boost walkability and local business traffic.
"We were able to install seven sculptures downtown in September of 2025," Monica said, noting the commission received 31 submissions from 22 artists and selected seven works for the inaugural exhibition. She said two of the selected artists are from Freeport and the others came from across the Midwest.
Monica described the project as a partnership between the Freeport Art Museum, the city and the Arts & Culture Commission. The display includes concrete pads from a streetscape project and QR codes at each stop that link to a free AutoCast audio tour narrated by the artists. "If the viewers wish, they can download an app, the AutoCast app on their phone," Monica said, adding the app can also highlight nearby businesses that are open to encourage economic spillover.
She said the sculpture walk was made possible by a Catalyst grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and support from Cornerstone Credit Union, which paid for the AutoCast app; additional support came from local Paint the Port event donors. Monica said the program is designed to rotate works annually so the exhibition remains dynamic and affordable (the city effectively rents the artworks rather than purchasing them).
Why it matters: Monica said public art increases walkability and patronage of downtown businesses; she cited national research that communities with sculpture walks see greater spending per visitor than those without. The Arts & Culture Commission encouraged residents to visit the route and suggested staff and council consider continuing funding and promotion to sustain the program.
Council response: Council members asked no substantive questions during the report; Monica offered to take questions and to provide the slide packet that accompanied her remarks.
Next steps: No formal action was taken. The report was accepted as informational and commissioners said they will return with any requests for funding or program changes if needed.
