Public involvement to feature series of events and new audio series
COLUMBUS, Ohio — “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” announces the beginning of the project’s public engagement period, which will launch with an in-person kickoff event on Wednesday, July 12 at Columbus Metropolitan Main Library from 6-8 p.m.
Led by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) and jointly funded by the City of Columbus and Franklin County, “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” endeavors to create a roadmap for the future of public art in central Ohio.
The July 12 town-hall style kickoff is open to all community members and is a dynamic opportunity for residents and community members to learn more about the process, ask questions and participate in a lively discussion about public art in central Ohio. A second and similarly styled kickoff event will be held in a virtual town hall format the following day, Thursday, July 13, from 1-2 p.m. on Zoom. Additional questions and discussion may be had during Virtual Office Hours on July 19 from 1-2 p.m.
Upcoming Public Engagement Event Details
In-Person Kickoff
Wednesday, July 12, 6-8 p.m.
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch
96 S. Grant Ave.
Join us to learn more about the planning process and participate in a dynamic conversation about the future of public art in Greater Columbus. Following an information and discussion session, attendees will be invited to mark the kickoff with an artistic presentation and light refreshments in Kaufman Plaza behind the Library.
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/take-part-in-person-kickoff-tickets-665699253387?aff=oddtdtcreator
Virtual Kickoff
Thursday, July 13, 1-2 p.m. EST
Virtual participants will learn more about the planning process and have the chance to share their thoughts on public art in Greater Columbus.
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/take-part-virtual-kickoff-tickets-666854578997?aff=oddtdtcreator
First Take pART Office Hours (will take place monthly)
Wednesday, July 19, 1-2 p.m. EST
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/take-part-public-office-hours-tickets-668528144677?aff=oddtdtcreator
Background
Approach to Public Engagement & Civic Dialogue
Spanning roughly four months, the public engagement period will focus on creating awareness of the research and planning effort, fostering civic dialogue around perceptions and needs related to public art, and listening closely to the input of diverse stakeholders and community members to foreground the voices of all those who live, work, create, visit, play and learn in Columbus. The project team, led by Columbus-based creatives Marshall Shorts and Jonna Twigg, will draw upon a variety of approaches to collecting feedback that prioritize historically underserved constituencies to ensure equitable representation and robust findings. In addition to more traditional engagement methods such as key informant interviews and public town hall-style gatherings, the engagement phase will also feature:
In-Person, Digital & Asynchronous Audio Field Research
To supplement a needs assessment survey, which debuted at the Columbus Arts Festival, research teams will attend various community events and area commission meetings over the summer and into early fall to gather survey responses in-person, embracing a “meet them where they are” approach. The survey will be available via traditional paper and pencil, digitally through the project’s website takepartcolumbus.com, and in a new partnership with Orange Barrel Media, it will also be accessible on digital IKE kiosks throughout the city. “Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” will also introduce asynchronous audio surveying as an experimental approach that aims to add incredible texture to the data and amplify the responses of individual community members in a unique and inclusive way. At various community events over the summer and into fall, participants will have the opportunity to listen to the survey questions in various languages and respond by recording their answers as voice notes.
The audio survey response gathering method ensures accessibility and inclusivity for participants who may have difficulty reading or writing, or who prefer to express themselves verbally. It also enables individuals to share their thoughts, opinions and experiences in their own voices, adding a personal and authentic dimension to the survey responses. Moreover, participants may complete the audio survey at their own pace and convenience with added flexibility to listen to the questions multiple times, reflect on their responses and record their answers when they feel ready to do so.
The audio survey responses will help the project team capture the nuances, emotions and intonations of participants, providing a deeper understanding of their perspectives and experiences. This approach allows a more comprehensive and inclusive representation of the community’s feedback, ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. Ultimately, these valuable contributions will be considered alongside the paper and digital survey responses, enriching the overall data analysis and development of the public art plan.
Take pART Podcast
The project team will carefully analyze the audio survey responses collected via asynchronous audio, transcribing and extracting key themes and insights to be publicly shared through marketing and communication efforts and folded into a new podcast series called Take pART. This audio program will facilitate a public conversation amongst relevant stakeholders, including artists, arts organizations, city officials and citizens to discuss and shape the future of public art in the city. By highlighting the work of local artists, showcasing various public art installations and positioning them in dialogue with individual voices, Take pART seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation for public art and its potential to enrich the lives of our Columbus community members. The podcast will launch in late summer.
Community Roundtables
A series of eight collaborative and dynamic conversations with members of specific sectors and geographies will allow stakeholders to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue about public art, prioritizing the most relevant issues, opportunities and challenges that impact culture and public art in Columbus. Roundtables will take place roughly once a week from August to October.
Virtual Office Hours
Those seeking more information or updates on future public engagement events may sign up to attend virtual office hours hosted by Lord Cultural Resources, the global consulting firm providing support for this work, and held monthly on Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. EST via Zoom. The first office hours session will take place Wednesday, July 19.
Those seeking the survey or more information and updates on future public engagement events can find details on the website www.takepartcolumbus.com.
“Greater Columbus. Greater ART.” is a year-long initiative to create a roadmap for the future of public art in central Ohio. With a joint investment made by the City of Columbus and Franklin County, the project is led by Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) with support from Lord Cultural Resources, the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. This plan will create a blueprint for the next five to 10 years, strengthening the cultural infrastructure of greater Columbus by casting a bold vision to catalyze the creation of more public art alongside a strategy to facilitate its management and care.
About the Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Greater Columbus Arts Council’s mission is to support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. GCAC funds artists and arts organizations in central Ohio, provides marketing services for artists and organizations through the ColumbusMakesArt.com event calendar, public art database and artist directory, and produces the annual Columbus Arts Festival. www.gcac.org
About Lord Cultural Resources
Lord Cultural Resources is the global practice leader in cultural sector planning. Since 1981, we have helped to create, plan and operate cultural spaces and places in more than 460 cities, in 57 countries and six continents. www.lord.ca
For translations of this release and other pages, please see the dropdown menu at the top right corner of gcac.org.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
