This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.
Do you have an idea for public art in Ann Arbor? We want to hear from you.
The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission is an advisory body to the City Council that works to improve the aesthetic quality of public spaces, expand cultural opportunities, celebrate local heritage, and support the overall well-being of our community. We welcome ideas and projects that contribute to these goals.
The Commission does not provide funding for projects, so any proposal should include a plan for how the work would be funded. While the Commission cannot approve contracts or install artwork, it can provide feedback, visibility, and recommendations to the City regarding proposed projects. If your idea involves City-owned property or another municipal space, City ordinance requires that the Public Art Commission review the concept and provide recommendations before a project moves forward.
This page is intended to help guide those conversations and ensure that common questions related to the use of public spaces are considered early in the process.
What happens after I share an idea?
City staff and the Public Art Commission will review the information you provide. In some cases, staff may follow up with additional questions to better understand the idea or location.
If an idea appears feasible, the Commission may share recommendations with City staff and City Council. The Commission is an advisory body and does not approve contracts or install artwork. Any City project must follow standard City review, procurement, and contracting requirements.
Does the Public Art Commission provide funding?
No. The Public Art Commission does not fund independent art projects.
If you are proposing a specific artwork for a City location, your idea should include a realistic plan describing:
Who will fund the project
Who will fabricate the artwork
Who will install it
How the artwork will be maintained over time
Chapter 24 of the City Code requires the City to consider long-term maintenance costs before acquiring a work of art.
Can public art projects be privately funded?
Yes. Chapter 24 allows public art projects to be supported through a variety of sources, including:
gifts or donations
grants
sponsorships or awards
community fundraising or crowdfunding for a specific project
If your idea is privately funded, donated, or intended as a temporary installation, please include that information so staff can guide the proposal through the appropriate review process.
What if the artwork is on private property?
This page focuses on ideas for City-owned property and public spaces.
If your proposal involves artwork located entirely on private property, review by the Public Art Commission is usually not required. However, other City permits or approvals may still apply depending on the size, location, or installation method of the project.
Ann Arbor Public Art Commission
Public Services Admin - City Hall 6th Flr
301 E. Huron Street, PO Box 8647
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Fax: 734-994-1816
Email: PublicArtCommission@a2gov.org
Staff Liaison: Christopher Cespedes
📧 ccespedes@a2gov.org
📞 734.794.6310 x43102
