Public Art

The Public Art Program selects artists for commissions and acquisitions through a citizen-driven panel process. A community selection panel is appointed for each project; their responsibility is to review submissions, select and interview finalists and recommend one artist to receive the commission.  The panel is comprised of community residents or facility users, arts professionals, members of the Arts Council, and relevant members of the construction team.  Artists interested in being considered for any public art project should follow us on social media and subscribe to our email.  

In 2021, we launched the Public Art Futures Lab. The Lab is a physical and online space to exhibit, experiment, educate, and experience the role of technology and its intersection with public art. By reducing barriers to create and participate in these emerging forms of art, the Lab seeks to expand access to cultural enrichment for our residents, provide the tools for artists to thrive in a digital economy, and ensure Fulton County Government and the Atlanta region take a national role in leading the broader adoption of technology in the arts.

The Art-on-Loan Program was created in 1995 to offer County departments a limited selection of framed original artwork, fine art prints, and posters.  

The program’s collection includes approximately 500 works for display in the public spaces of Fulton County departments. The purpose of the Art-on-Loan Program is to enliven the public spaces and create a more welcoming environment for our patrons while providing an opportunity to showcase the talented arts community of Fulton County.   

Our collection consists of more than 60 commissions at sites around the County in the libraries, senior centers, health centers, government buildings, and art centers. In preserving and maintaining the Public Art Collection, each site is visited on a regular basis, and each artwork is cleaned, assessed, and documented. Because the artwork is in the public sphere, there are times that the artwork is damaged or, over time, needs repair. The Public Art Conservator determines the condition of the art and the conservation treatment needed to ensure that the artwork is preserved in the best condition. To learn more about our work, check out the videos from Ask a Conservator Day (held in November each year).