Downtown STL Public Art Initiative

The Initiative grew into a collaboration that included Downtown STL, Inc., with facilitation by Via Partnership, and served as a pilot for neighborhood-based public art strategies. It focused on turning the plan’s ideas into action by developing and supporting public art projects, partnering with Downtown stakeholders, and serving as a resource for developers, property owners, arts and community organizations, and artists interested in initiating public art projects. 

The initiative ultimately contributed to a series of temporary public art proposals through InSITE STL that were being implemented at the time of the original report. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with leadership transitions at RAC and Downtown STL, Inc., significantly slowed the initiative’s progress. While Downtown public art was not a central focus of RAC’s ongoing work, RAC continued to contribute as a regional advocate for public art, supporting legislation to formalize a public art program in the City of St. Louis and supporting public art projects initiated by regional partners, as well as projects led by RAC. 

The Downtown STL Public Art Initiative represented an important period of collaboration and planning that helped advance conversations around the role of public art in Downtown St. Louis. The Initiative and its proposed strategies are not currently an active RAC program or plan.