Division of the Arts Public Art in Louisiana Public Art is a mirror that reflects the local environment, cultural values, and artistic vitality of a community in which it exists. At its best, public art is more than just art installed in public places. It is a community-based process of dialogue, involvement, and participation. Public Art enhances the quality of life for citizens by encouraging a heightened sense of place, enhancing a community's prestige, and enlivening the visual quality of the built environment. Successful Public Art is site specific and responds to the concept of placemaking.
Programs operate in different ways.
Some maintain slide registries of artwork so that architects, officials and others can identify the type of artwork suitable for their project and contact the artist. Other programs hold competitions and notify those on their mailing list when opportunities are available.