Public Art Program
Public Art is artwork created by professional artists through a community input process. The artwork is funded through a public art ordinance (see public art guidelines for more info) that was adopted in 2000. The ordinance sets aside 1% of certain capital improvement project funds for the commissioning and purchase of art. Since Nashville’s public art program began, more than sixteen permanent works of art have been added to the public art collection. Several additional works of art are in varying stages of being commissioned, fabricated and installed.
The goal of the program is to integrate artwork into a variety of public sites throughout the city so that every citizen can experience cultural enrichment and enhancement of our parks, libraries, roadways, mass transit and civic spaces while supporting the cultural identity of our city. Artwork is selected by citizen selection panels comprised of professional artists, arts and design professionals, community and site representatives. Recommendations are made to the Public Art Committee and the Metro Nashville Arts Commission for review and final commission.
Learn more about the process of civic engagement and Nashville’s first percent-for-art project.
If you would like to get involved with the Public Art process, please sign up to receive our email newsletters for artist opportunities and community meeting updates, or nominate someone to be a selection panelist.
Metro Arts maintains the public art collection through an ongoing schedule of routine maintenance as well as repair and restoration work. If you see an artwork that needs attention, please let us know.
Find an Artwork or view the Collection or Projects in Progress.
Public Art Committee Committee Members
Don Hardin, Chair
Jane Alvis
Stephanie McCullough
Ellen Meyer
Van Pond
Anderson Williams
Mel Zeigler
Paula Roberts, Ex-officio
Technical Advisors
Tim Netsch, Metro Parks
Jenna Smith, Metro Public Works
Joni Priest, Metro Planning
Staff
Jennifer Cole, Executive Director
Caroline Vincent, Public Art Manager
Anne-Leslie Owens, Public Art Project Coordinator
Van Gill, Public Art Project Coordinator