ASC Celebrates 20+ Years of Public Art Stewardship
Public art in Charlotte-Mecklenburg plays a vital role in shaping the region’s identity as North Carolina’s leading hub for arts and culture. From sculptures and murals to digital installations, this immersive form of visual art is both funded by, and created for, the public.
As the region’s premier public art manager, the Arts & Science Council turns such visions into reality. We administer projects funded through capital improvement projects by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. These large-scale efforts include libraries, parks and greenways, recreation centers, police and fire stations, streetscapes, transit hubs, and other government buildings.
Public art stewardship has been a cornerstone of ASC’s mission for over two decades and remains a driving force in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural ecosystem, and we recognize the value that these artworks play in shaping the lives of all Charlottean’s and our neighbors across Mecklenburg County.
The value of public art
Public art goes beyond enhancing visual aesthetics.
Randella Davis, ASC’s Public Art Program Director says, “public art is a catalyst for connectivity that binds people to a place and to one another, creating pride and responsibility for these shared spaces.”
As Todd Stewart, ASC’s Vice President of Public Art, puts it, “Public art is a bold way to reflect the human element in our built environment. It tells stories, anchors identity, and when done right, it’s deeply rooted in community and place.”
Through managing hundreds of projects across Mecklenburg County, from the busy streets of Uptown to the lush greenways near Lake Norman, ASC is proud to be this region’s public art expert.
Timeline: ASC’s Public Art Partnership with the City & County
1981
- The original public art program for Charlotte-Mecklenburg was established in 1981 as a 1% for art program.
- At that time, it was administered and staffed by the City/County Planning Commission, with a volunteer board.
1992
- A special task force was convened to study ways of restructuring the public art program to address the perceived shortcomings of the programs and the controversies it had engendered. They issued what became known as the Eddie Knox Report.
- The Knox Report recommended that the restructured program be administered by the Arts and Science Council (ASC) – an agency that provides “a bridge between public and private purposes.”
1993
- City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County adopt a joint resolution to create the Public Art Program supporting public art as part of public infrastructure.
- ASC assumes responsibility for the administration of the public art program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
2000–2001
- Jerry Allen and Associates along with Jean McLaughlin, Executive Director of Penland School of Crafts, and artist Jack Mackie began the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Public Art Master Plan in September of 2000.
- The ASC staff identified and appointed a Master Plan Steering Committee, comprised of individuals with an interest in the cultural development of the city and county and chaired by Harvey Gantt.
2002
- Mecklenburg County adopts its “Percent for Art” ordinance, dedicating up to 1% of eligible Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budgets to public art.
2003
- The City of Charlotte adopts its Percent for Art ordinance.
- Both ordinances officially name ASC as program administrator.
2003–present
- ASC implements, manages, and evolves public art policy and practices.
- Initiatives include the Regional Artist Directory, professional development incubators, and the digitization/mapping of the public art collection.
Today
- The collection includes 206 permanent artworks, with more in development.
- ASC continues to champion equity in artist selection, geographic distribution, and community ownership of public space.
P(ART)NERS: Collaborating with Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte
The partnership between ASC, the City of Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County ensures one essential thing: that tax dollars are used to create public art with the community, not just for it.
ASC’s Partnership with Mecklenburg County
ASC proudly stewards Mecklenburg County’s Percent For Art Ordinance, which designates one percent of eligible capital project budgets for public art. This means when the County invests in libraries, parks, or recreation centers, that investment also supports accessible, meaningful artwork in those same spaces.
ASC’s Partnership with the City of Charlotte
Similarly, ASC administers the City of Charlotte’s Percent For Art Ordinance, applying the same one-percent model to city-led construction. From fire stations to transit facilities, and even Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, public art becomes part of the civic experience, serving residents and reflecting the diverse identities of our neighborhoods.
Behind the scenes, one key group plays a critical role in transferring ownership of completed artworks to the City and County: The Public Art Commission.
Connecting Creatives with Communities: The Public Art Commission
ASC staff doesn’t select the artists who create the public works in our region; that work is left to the Public Art Commission (PAC). This volunteer advisory board plays a pivotal role in ensuring that Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s public art program is equitable, transparent, and professionally guided.
Comprised of appointees from the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and ASC, the PAC represents a balance of civic, community, and artistic perspectives. City and County members are appointed through formal public meetings, while ASC’s Board of Directors selects artists, architects, and design professionals to provide creative expertise.
The Public Art Commission’s goal for the City and County art collections is to ensure balanced representation of local, regional, and national artists over time, ensuring diversity in artists’ identities and background, artistic styles, media, and genres.
“(The PAC serves as) the stewards who make sure every piece is feasible, community-supported, and built to last,” said Stewart.
Meredith Connelly, a Mecklenburg County public artist, says the PAC is instrumental in the work of public artists in the Charlotte region.
“Working with the Commission has been a thoughtful and enriching process, allowing me to expand and refine my skill set…(F)rom the earliest design phases, the Commission supported not only the artistic vision but also the integration of meaningful storytelling and community context. Their investment in both the why and the how of the work has made a significant impact.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Public Art is Yours
The facts are simple: If you reside in Mecklenburg County or the City of Charlotte, you have ownership in the public art that ASC helps bring to life. We take that responsibility seriously and are proud to steward the public art ordinances that make our region North Carolina’s premier cultural hub.
At any given moment, the ASC staff and the Public Art Commission are hard at work managing dozens of public art projects all across the Mecklenburg Region.
When you support ASC, you help ensure that Charlotte remains North Carolina’s regional arts powerhouse, thanks in no small part to the stunning public art that makes the Queen City and surrounding communities feel like home for so many.
To learn more about public art in Mecklenburg County, visit artsandscience.org/public-art.
ABOUT ASC
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural leader, serving as a resource hub, funder, and advocate for arts, science, and history.
A supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, ASC champions local creatives by investing in the arts, sciences, and culture to drive economic growth, community retention, and cultural engagement.
Our mission is to build inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich communities where creativity drives belonging, growth, and opportunity. From artist support grants and public art stewardship to free Culture Blocks events and partnerships with local schools and universities, ASC invests in a thriving, accessible creative ecosystem for all.
