Forming an Urban Public Art Collection a Case Study of the Fairmount Park Art Association

Abstract

Chartered in 1872 as the nation's first public art organization, the Fairmount Park Art Association can be used as a case study for how urban public art collections form and evolve over time. From acquisitions, purchases and donations, to new commissions and involvement with monuments and memorials, the Art Association has helped build Philadelphia's collection of cultural treasures. Programs such as Form and Function and New•Land•Marks have changed the approach to the commission process, resulting in artworks that are integrated with the site and connected to the community. Over the years the Art Association's related public art activities have included planning projects, establishing an ongoing conservation maintenance program, advocacy, documentation, and interpretation. These efforts combined with those of other entities and individuals have established Philadelphia as a public art destination with the largest collection of outdoor sculpture in the United States—an attraction for tourists that contributes to the quality of life in the city.