Understanding the impact and value of temporary public art sculpture trails

Abstract

Temporary public art sculpture trails (T-Pasts) have been used for over 20 years around the world to fulfil a number of objectives. They can help to generate revenue for host towns and cities; they can contribute to place branding; they can provide entertainment for residents and visitors; and they can raise funds for designated charitable causes. They typically feature object characters that have a relevance for the host place and they invariably utilise the same operational model. They receive significant local publicity and various claims are made concerning their economic, social and aesthetic impact. But there is a case to be made that they are ‘hidden in plain sight’ as some people will walk or drive past exhibits without ever seeing them. In this article, we track the history of T-Pasts, categorise them into different types, examine their value for different stakeholders, discuss their various impacts and offer a conceptual impact model. We conclude the article with a discussion that contextualises T-Pasts in relevant themes, including place enabling and place building, and also the significance of the temporary element.

Application of Calcium-Based Nanomaterials in Art Sculpture Reinforcement Technology

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From Streets to Silos: Urban Art Forms in Local Rural Government and the Challenge of Regional Development

“…Public muralism attracts the interest of public cultural policy agencies because it appeals to a range of common policy objectives. By beautifying abandoned or under-maintained buildings and providing local communities with a visual expression of their collective identity, public murals hold the promise of regenerating public spaces, raising community pride and increasing liveability and the wellbeing of the communities that live around them (Gunn, 2020;Martinez-Carazo et al, 2021;Morris & Cant, 2004;Robinson, 2018;Thompson & Day, 2020). These artistic interventions in place, or acts of 'creative placemaking' (Forte & De Paola, 2019, p. 1;Markusen & Gadwa, 2010, p. 3), are broadly positioned as regenerative strategies which positively contribute to the built environment and a community's public space, particularly in physically degraded and socially disadvantaged areas (Forte & De Paola, 2019).…”

Place building: The contribution of art and artistic entrepreneurship

“…Bee in the City (2018) in Manchester is an example of a temporary public art sculpture trail (‘t-past’ - see Thompson and Day, 2020). The sculptures in an individual t-past all use the same 3D blank model, but each one is decorated individually to create artistic difference.…”