Public Art Program Last updated or reviewed on October 30, 2026 The Public Art Program aims to strengthen Asheville’s identity as a work of art and support the vibrancy of the creative sector that calls Asheville home. Asheville’s identity is largely built on its wealth of memorable places, its rich cultural heritage, and the excellent arts, crafts and maker community that exists here today. The private and not for profit arts leaders- not to mention the artists themselves- in this community are leading the way; the City of Asheville’s role is to help the community have a high quality of life by increasing opportunities for arts and culture to be part of the public realm. We especially want to increase the levels of participation and representation from members of our BIPOC and LGBTQ communities, who are still underrepresented in our current public art collection, and in the past, have been underrepresented on our Public Art and Culture Commission. Current Projects and Opportunities City-issued Calls for Artists will be listed here. Public Art at the Broadway Public Safety Station A brand-new interactive sound sculpture is officially open on the Reed Creek Greenway! View the City’s press release. A celebratory ribbon cutting for the Broadway Public Safety Station Public Art project was held onsite, where the Reed Creek Greenway crosses Catawba Street, on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. Funded through the City’s One Percent for Public Art Policy (via the nearby Broadway Public Safety Station project) and crafted by artists Nick Geurts and Alex Irvine, this playable musical sculpture features custom ceramic tiles handmade by local residents at community workshops. If you created a tile, it’s now part of the permanent installation. Come find where yours landed! Huge thanks to Odyssey Clayworks, the artists and their teams, and every community member who lent their creativity to bring this piece to life. For more background on this artwork, visit the project page. Artists Nick Geurts and Alex Irvine pose in front of the sculpture. Local musician and kids enjoy new piece of public art. Fluvial The City of Asheville, along with the Public Art and Culture Commission and Urban Trail Committee, celebrated the installation and dedication of a new piece of public art on November 13, 2025. The sculpture, titled Fluvial, was designed, fabricated and installed by metal worker Rachel David with Red Metal. Functioning as both public art and seating, the piece sits next to the existing outdoor dining area in front of the historic S&W Building, next to The Times Bar & Coffee. Fluvial reimagines and replaces the long vacant Station #7 on the Urban Trail and is inspired by Art Deco architecture, Douglas Ellington’s S&W Building and David’s unique artistry. View early sketches and photos of the completed artwork below. Artist Rachel David at the installation ceremony in front of Fluvial sculpture. Photo of Fluvial looking toward the S&W Building. Sketch of the front of the artwork/bench. Drawing by Rachel David. July visit to RED Metal studio in Waynesville, NC. Playful Art for Jake Rusher Park The community worked with artist Becky Borlan on the design and installation of a playable piece of art at Jake Rusher Park. The piece was installed in early 2026 and is available to admire and enjoy the next time you visit the park. History of the Public Art Program Starting in the 1970s, people noticed that Asheville had very little public art compared to other cities around the country. As an outgrowth of the downtown streetscape program, the idea for a walking trail was explored over 2 years beginning in 1988. When the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation funded a small grant for a design charrette in 1990, the Urban Trail Committee was formed soon thereafter, composed of volunteers, professionals, and content experts with support by City Staff. They developed a walking art trail highlighting historically important people, architecture, places, and events within Downtown Asheville. Completion of the original phase of the Urban Trail was celebrated in May 2002. The Urban Trail became an Asheville treasure and helped show citizens what public art could do for our community. In November of 1998, a group of eighteen concerned citizens came together to form the Public Art Working Group. Many meetings and a great deal of research later, City Council adopted the City’s first Public Art Policy. A newly established Public Art Board started meeting in May of 2000. Asheville Public Art Program Components The primary components of the City of Asheville’s Public Art Program are the Public Art Master Plan, the Percent for Public Art Policy, the Public Art and Culture Commission, the Public Art Collection, Public Art Program Administration, and Current Projects. Public Art Master Plan The Public Art Master Plan (PAMP) was completed in 2000 and re-adopted in November, 2008. Our community has changed significantly since this plan was created. Updating the plan is the top priority of the Public Art and Culture Commission. Public Art Master Plan Public Art and Culture Commission The Public Art and Culture Commission (PACC) is responsible for promoting public art creation and public art maintenance in the public buildings and public spaces within Asheville, North Carolina. All regular meetings of advisory boards staffed by City employees will continue to remain on pause through June 2027. Before the pause, regular PACC meetings were in-person in City Hall’s first floor conference room (70 Court Plaza) from 4 to 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. All meetings were live streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel and the Public Art and Culture Commission’s Public Input Page. The Public Art Collection As you explore Asheville, you’ll see a number of sculptures and other pieces of art: The “Energy Loop”, the Deco Gecko in Pritchard Park, the murals in the City Hall chambers, the bronze life-size sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at MLK Park, and the more than 30 sculptures and plaques along the Urban Trail are all part of Asheville’s public art collection. Information About the Urban Trail Map of Urban Trail and Public Art Collection The Public Art Collection inventory is currently being updated. Public Art Administration The City supports arts and culture initiatives as a strategy for wealth creation and the enhancement of place. The Planning and Urban Design Department’s work includes advising on the City of Asheville’s investments in public art and place-making, promoting and implementing the goals of the Public Art Master Plan, and administering the City’s Percent for Public Art policy. We work across departments and with designers, producers, developers, businesses and artists in the public to get the community the public spaces they need to thrive. Project Archive Artists’ work -which included interactive performance, sculpture, mixed media, and other styles- was installed in Pack Square Plaza, the heart of downtown Asheville, as a way to spark community engagement for the Pack Square Plaza Visioning and Improvements project. The works supported important conversations on how to ensure our public spaces reflect Asheville’s diverse community and history. For more information on the program, the artists and their projects, visit Art in the Heart’s project page on the City’s website. Contact Information Karli Stephenson // (828) 259-5627
