City of Calgary

"The Percent for Public Art program is an example of how policy tries to shape the built environment. The idea is that a small percentage of infrastructure funding is directed toward public art, so that projects are not purely utilitarian. On one level, the intention is clear. It is meant to improve the quality of the environment and add cultural value. But in practice, the outcomes have been mixed. A lot of the art ended up in places like highway interchanges, where people do not really experience it in the way that was intended. That led to criticism, both about the design and about where the art was located. What stands out here is the gap between intention and outcome. The policy is trying to do something positive, but it takes time to understand how to apply it effectively. It shows that improving quality in the built environment is not just about having the right idea. It is also about how that idea is implemented and how people actually experience it." (Adapted from interview material. Edited for clarity while preserving the participant’s voice.)

"Since 2017 in Calgary, the Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) Festival (https://yycbump.ca/) has been installing murals on existing structures to “create accessible public art that uplifts communities across Calgary.” With over 180+ public art installations, the impact of this interventions is not only significant, but transformative to public space. The vast variety of murals, artistic perspectives, and relationships generated within public space creates a dialogue and discussion between people and their environment, their friends, and their own perceptions of context. The quality of the project is linked to variety and influence, rather than a specificity. I have been at numerous person and community events where the murals are actively discussed and debated. They challenge previously held perceptions of what people like or appreciate – not only about art but about their community and the buildings hosting the art. The direct relationship between personal value and appreciation is linked to our built environment through these murals. On countless occasions, these installations have been the foundation to discussions about public space, it’s value, and emergent perspectives on our city’s public space. Although this strategy of generating a significant public art fabric is neither new or unique, the vast footprint of the BUMP Festival has realized significant response and engagement – and is a remarkably positive contribution to experience and quality of space." (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.164). (https://yycbump.ca/) Artist: BirdO Artist: Adam Zhu