ABSTRACT
The Percent-for-Art Program in Portland, Oregon, had its beginnings like many others in the United States, with a focus on acquiring artworks for public facilities. When the program reached its ten-year anniversary in 1990, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) engaged the arts community in a series of informal conversations about the state of public art in Portland—what worked, what didn’t, and what was needed. Feedback was gathered from artists, the general public, and former public art selection panelists. It came as no surprise that there was strong support for continuing to commission permanent works. However, both mature and emerging artists were eager for opportunities that would allow them to explore socially relevant ideas, experiment with new materials, and extend their studio investigations into the public realm. The general consensus was that adding a component of temporary works would enrich the program and provide touchstones for conversations about art and other issues in the community.
