Multi Outcome Construction Policy (final report)

harshness of past architecture to create a more pleasant and user friendly environment(McCarthy 2006), which enhanced productivity of its inhabitants. Thus public art hasa utilitarian value which can enhance the purpose of the buildings in which they arelocated.One of the more apparent benefits achieved from schemes that fund public art is theeconomic benefit for artists. Through percent for art projects, artists are contracted todesign and deliver artwork. Apart from the immediate financial benefits which accruefrom such activities, artists also stand to gain from skill development and also futureemployment opportunities (Kins 1998; Sharp et al. 2005). Artist skill development isa broad category that encompasses interpersonal skills, communication skills, andartistic skills, and business skills. Interpersonal skills are able to be developed throughthe experience of working in collaborative project teams, which can involve the artistworking with the architects, construction teams and clients (Taylor 2002).Communication skills are also able to be gained through the artist working acrossdisciplines for example with architects and engineers (Hein 2006). Business skills arederived from having to tender for new businesses and operate at a scale of other smallbusiness enterprises.Another espoused benefit of public art that it can provide memorial, historical, andeducation benefits to the community. Memorial benefits arise from the artwork beingable to act as a reminder of past events or memorialise significant historical events(Hein 1996; Hein 2006; Eccles 2004, 12). The artwork can also provide communityeducation and other benefits by providing a focal point for community history(Phillips 1995; McCarthy 2006) 36 .Public art is also held to be able to provide economic benefits through helping theregeneration of urban areas (Miles 1997; Sharp et al. 2005; McCarthy 2006; Coakley2007). Cultural tourism 37 , promoted through the creation of public art can also36 An example of this is the maritime town of Cobh in Ireland which uses public art as a memorial to anumber of important maritime incidents which the town played a part, particularly the Lusitania andTitanic disasters (Coakley 2007).37 An example of this is the major annual public art displays at Rhode Island, which resulted insignificant growth in tourism, and a flow on of economic benefits to the wider community, valued inthe millions of dollars (Goldblatt and Perry 2002).102