Funding Public Art

As seen in The Ann Arbor News, the city of Ann Arbor has adopted a 1% rule to fund public art, officially the "Percent for Art Ordinance." It means that 1% of large capital building projects will be spent on art -- public art at that! Toronto has had this 1% rule for years now and it truly shows. Almost every new building has outdoor sculpture erected with it. And because architects have to make room for the art, the space outside of the buildings is often more attractive than the average straight sidewalk and grass. Not only is it funding for the arts -- and lets face it, there's a "starving artist" stereotype for a reason -- but it is a means to making Ann Arbor even more dynamic and attractive.

Read more at "Public Art Elevates Cities" on mlive.com.