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Tuesday, January 6, 2009 |
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PART 19: Defining London through public art fund can help direction
It's only a first step, but it's a step in the right direction. This week, council made a pretty strong statement in favour of public art, and the need to encourage more of it in London.
"I think it's a significant step for the city, I really do," said Cont. Gord Hume, who heads up the creative cities committee, which made the recommendation. The objective, says Hume, is to double the amount over the next few years and then leverage the fund to attract investments from the private sector. It might seem radical, but London isn't exactly leading the pack by establishing this kind of fund. Many larger -- and smaller -- cities have much bigger funds relative to their size. But it's a good start. Public art helps make a city worth living in. It tantalizes and it rewards, it attracts innovative, creative, hard-working contributors to the local economy. It is part and parcel of a creative city, and is key to our future economic prosperity. Will it be controversial? We should all hope so. For good public art is rarely invisible. It is more than statues in the park or a sculpture in a square. Good public art helps distinguish public spaces; define borders; creates places; acts as a focal point; anchors buildings. Good public art reminds us of who we are and where we've come from. It entertains, challenges, engages. It also helps urban design and raises the bar for other projects. It makes people more aware of the importance of our built environment, and the need to make our cities livable. If it creates debate, which it inevitably does if it's any good, then so much the better. All the great public art pieces emerged out of very loud, public and sometimes even divisive debates. London has some fine public art, but not nearly enough of it. Perhaps the last big project occurred on Wellington Street north of Dundas. (And it was controversial.) That happened far too long ago. As Hume says, public art "isn't all about hanging a pretty picture on a wall." It could be innovative design or unique lighting. It could be placed downtown or in the suburbs or along Highway 401. But it should tell others, and it should remind us, that we're standing up to be counted. Paul Berton is Sun Media National Comment Editor.
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E-MAIL: Paul Berton