Public Art Bringing Vibrancy to City Spaces

By Rachel Kats

Throughout Minnesota there are many cherished city-supported art events, projects, and installations. These city-supported public arts projects and programs play an important role in fostering community and can beautify spaces, lead to economic growth, and help showcase a community’s spirit or character.

Public artwork often begins with community engagement efforts, according to the Minnesota State Arts Board. Community members share how they want their city to be known and determine what values, traditions, or stories are most important to convey. Developing this shared identity can help facilitate positive conversations and connect residents. Other ways public art can benefit cities include:

Enhancing public spaces and revitalizing areas. Public art can transform mundane or overlooked areas into vibrant and attractive spaces. It also plays a crucial role in revitalizing areas that have suffered from decay or neglect. By adding beauty and interest, these artworks can stimulate increased property values, and improve the overall quality of life.

Creating destinations and raising visibility. Iconic public artworks can become landmarks and destinations, attracting visitors, new residents, and businesses to contribute to the local economy.

If you’re interested in bringing more public art into your city, these seven examples can provide ideas and inspiration.

Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie’s public art program includes a rotating art series that awards artists the opportunity to have their works displayed in the community for one year. The project began as a rotating sculpture series, but the annual juried process has expanded to include multiple artforms and permanent installations throughout the city.

A few of those permanent installations are located at Staring Lake Park, including a mosaic installed on the Staring Lake Park Building, and a nearby ground mural, which transforms a walking path into a Mississippi River ecosystem that is integrated with the park’s playground.

Learn more about Eden Prairie’s public art program at edenprairie.org/PublicArt.

Hopkins

Public art in Hopkins contributes toward a shared perception of the arts as an integral part of community life. Since 2010, the core of the city’s public art programs, ArtStreet, has made visual arts accessible to all residents and visitors. ArtStreet was joined by The Artery in 2018, a bike, pedestrian, and vehicle connection studded with numerous permanent artworks along 8th Avenue South between the future METRO Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit Station and the city’s historic downtown. Then in 2023, two murals by national artists were completed, with two more on the way in fall of 2024.

Hutchinson

Hutchinson’s 11th annual Sculpture Stroll, curated by the Hutchinson Public Arts Commission, is enchanting residents and visitors with an immersive outdoor gallery experience. Featuring an eclectic mix of styles and themes, the Stroll includes 13 rotating sculptures displayed downtown and in city parks and public spaces, including the historic downtown district, Crow River, and Luce Line State Trail. The event encourages exploration of the city’s parks and trails and features Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards to recognize exceptional talent. The Stroll also includes 15 permanent artworks of varied mediums that have been installed at public parks and other locations around Hutchinson to further enhance the already stellar park system and downtown area.

Mankato

The Silo Art Mural in Mankato is a vibrant celebration of local culture and history, commissioned as part of a community revitalization effort. Created by renowned artist Guido van Helten, the mural transforms an old grain silo into a dynamic canvas, depicting scenes that reflect Mankato’s agricultural roots and community spirit. Funded through a combination of local grants and private donations, this striking artwork has become a focal point for visitors and residents alike, sparking pride, and drawing tourists to the area. The mural not only beautifies the landscape but also strengthens community identity and fosters local engagement.

North St. Paul

Creating community through public art and cultural expression is the mission of North St. Paul’s Arts and Culture Commission, and the Snowy Statues project was a perfect fit.

The statues play off the city’s iconic giant snowman statue and give businesses around the city a chance to sponsor a statue and show city spirit and promote their business through art. The city asked artists to submit ideas on how to design and decorate the statutes. A wide range of submissions were received reflecting the city’s diversity and creativity. The final eight statute designs were then chosen by the Arts and Culture Commission.

The Snowy Statues project generated a lot of excitement within the community, with many people attending the unveiling party, locating all eight statues, and even high-fiving each of the statues on their morning run around the city.

Rochester

This mosaic, installed in May 2024 at the new Soldiers Field Aquatics Center entrance, is one of Rochester’s newest public art pieces. Local artist Mary Beth Magyar designed it as a friendly, welcoming, and colorful meeting spot. Students from Apex, a recovery program within the Alternative Learning Center, fourth graders and staff from Riverside Elementary School, and immigrant community members from Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association helped cut tiles and glue pieces, giving people hands-on involvement. This is one of dozens of art installations the city has undertaken in the last few years, adding additional vibrancy to the community.

Stillwater

The City of Stillwater was approached by local business owners concerning the condition of an alley known informally as “garbage alley.” The local businesses proposed that the city allow murals in the alleyway as well as outdoor seating. Stillwater was excited about the public-private partnership and worked with them to allow for the creation of Union Art Alley. Business owners partnered with ArtReach St. Croix to create a new vibrant arts hub in Downtown Stillwater. Learn more about the project at unionartalley.com/committee.

Rachel Kats is publications and web editor with the League of Minnesota Cities. Contact: [email protected] or (651) 215-4032.