Public Art Policy

The City of New Westminster supports the installation of permanent and temporary art in public places that celebrates and honours our culture, history, people, events and locations while enhancing our social and economic vibrancy. Public art affects many aspects of community living. Public art enriches daily life through visual experiences and attracts people to places where public art is installed.

On November 5, 2012, City Council adopted the City’s first Public Art Policy and a significant tool for promoting the cultural growth of the community, encouraging economic development and creating a sense of enhanced civic pride and identity.

The primary purpose of the Public Art Policy is to provide a mechanism through which the City of New Westminster acquires public art for municipally-owned public space through its purchase, commission or donation, and manages a growing public art collection.

The 2008 Arts Strategy recognizes the important contribution of public art to the quality of the public realm. The Arts Strategy also recognizes the need for the City to finance the acquisition, conservation and inventory of public art. Public art helps to make buildings, open spaces and neighborhoods attractive and memorable places where people want to visit, live, work and play. The Public Art Policy represents an important tool for securing high quality installations of public art in order to achieve this goal.