Indianapolis councilman John Barth wants to bring the city's neighborhoods together, and he believes he's found the mechanism to do so: art.
Barth is set to to propose a new city ordinance that would require developers who are given tax incentives as part of their projects to invest some of their funds in public art. Barth says the amount to be invested would be small, amounting to 1% of the tax incentive, but he believes installing public art would make neighborhoods more vibrant, and support local artists at the same time.
The money collected would not be confined to a few upscale locations, but would be used all over Indianapolis, with at least half being spent on projects in low-income areas. Developers who include public art in their plans would then be given a credit for the money they spend.
Perhaps most importantly—and the most fun—the projects would be decided by the people who live in the neighborhood. One area might want to have a mural painted, while another might want to hire the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to come and play on a warm summer evening. Picking the art for their neighborhood will bring people together, Barth believes, and make the area even more secure.
City officials might consider working with a flyer printing company on a mailer for residents, encouraging their participation in choosing their art.
