Embedding Public Art: Practice, Policy and Problems

Since the 1980s, public art has been argued to be a key driver in economic and social regeneration, but this is not reflected by its inscription into policy. Drawing on a survey of local authorities in Britain this article explores how and to what extent public art has become embedded in planning processes. Three key factors are identified as problematizing embeddedness: funding, visibility within local practice and the relationship between policy, process and public. Embedding, in this context, is taken to indicate the processes defining how artists are able to become engaged within the planning process. What is argued is the need for a clearer and more robust framework for funding, policy and processes that enables creative practice.