Public Art
Public art, simply put, is art in public spaces. At the City of Boise, our goal is to emphasize the public in public art; funded by public money, the City uses a public process, centering the community in the development of opportunities, selection of artists, and implementation of projects.
Boise's public art program is informed by the principles of creative placemaking. Creative placemaking centers community members, artists, arts and culture organizations, community developers, and other stakeholders to implement community-led change. This approach aims to increase vibrancy, improve economic conditions, and build capacity among residents to take ownership of their communities.
Public art utilizes and emphasizes this process by creating a visual anchor or marker that reflects and embodies the identity and values of a community or place. Boise residents recognize the value in the investments made into the public art program and the arts community and appreciate the introduction of vibrancy into the urban environment. Our program heavily emphasizes the public and community engagement in our projects, and as a result our public art celebrates Boise's unique local character, more tightly connecting us to one another and to this place.
Public Art Program Mission:
Provide meaningful experiences and opportunities with and for various communities through accessible public art and programming that fosters and reflects the evolving identity of Boise, thus cultivating a unique sense of place.
Public Art Resources
The Public Art Team also supports processes, provides experiences, and offers resources.
The Public Art Division believes it is important for artists to have tools and resources when applying for public art projects. Applying for a City-funded art project can feel daunting, and our intent is to provide an understanding of the process - and clarity on where to turn if you need more information. Below are some resources, including the Going Public: Foundations Workshop, diving deep into the City of Boise's public art process.
Resources:
Going Public: Foundations Workshop
Going Public Recordings
Opportunities:
Boise Public Art Opportunities
Idaho Commission on the Arts Opportunities
Meridian City Calls to Artists
City of Nampa Artist Calls
McCall, Idaho Public Art
CAFÉ Nationwide Entries (register for updates)
Forecast Public Art
Coda Worx
Public Art Exchange
Tours
Boise Arts & History offers both guided and self-guided tours with opportunities to engage with public art, historical sites, and more. Virtual tours and recorded presentations are also available.
Learn more about all our tours.
Mural Permitting and Processing
To beautify public areas, enhance the quality of life for Boise residents, attract tourism, promote arts and culture and encourage businesses to locate within the city - thus expanding Boise's economic base - the City of Boise promotes public murals through the implementation of a clear process for mural permitting and Public Mural Guidelines.
Mural Applications
The application and permitting process for murals is jointly facilitated by the City of Boise's Planning and Development Services and the Department of Arts & History. Applicants must submit completed applications to Planning and Development Services to be reviewed administratively by staff to receive approval with any relevant conditions. See Planning and Development Services mural information including process workflow, submittal checklist and more.
The Public Art Program Team is available as a resource to advise on this process, assist with project development and location identification, answer application questions, and provide general assistance.
Contact the Public Art Program Team at artsandhistory@cityofboise.org.
The purpose of the Mural Registration Program is to promote and support artists and businesses by maintaining a high-quality, publicly accessible mural map that encourages exploration, learning, and tourism.
The mural registry is vetted by the City of Boise and spotlights both City-owned murals and public murals. Applicants intending to participate in the Boise Mural Registry must provide high-quality images of the completed mural to Arts & History staff.
Want to add your already completed mural to the registry? Vintage murals, or murals that were installed before the new mural permitting process may be added to the Boise Mural Registry via the retroactive mural registry application process.
