Following the establishment of the New Castle County (NCC) Arts Commission in December of 2023, its members have been hard at work establishing their goals, from public art installations to library renovations. At the forefront of their plan – economic and cultural benefits for the county.
“My personal perspective and motivation for the commission dealt more with the economic development sort of thing, and just making our communities much more user-friendly,” Councilwoman Dee Durham, who co-founded the commission with Councilwoman Valerie George, said.
Durham attributes Philadelphia’s Percent for Art program as a major inspiration for the NCC Arts Commission. The Percent for Art program allows for a one percent allotment of budgets for new construction and renovation projects to be used towards public art installations specifically designed for the space they are commissioned for, whether it be a government building or a community center.
There has been an executive order filed by County Executive Matt Meyer to develop New Castle County’s own “Percent for Art” program to be used for county properties and projects, in hopes that the program will come into play involving the development of the upcoming renovations to the Newark Free Library.
In addition to the Philadelphia Percent for Art program, the NCC commission has also found inspiration in similar programs across the country, with an emphasis being placed on what will most benefit the county as a whole.
“When I looked at the numbers of what a vibrant public art program can do for a country specifically, it’s amazing,” George said. “If people travel here to see a show or to visit an exhibit, and then they spend their dollars here, a lot of those dollars will directly impact our local small businesses in a positive way.”
According to the Delaware Arts Alliance, the arts create jobs and produce tax revenue, as well as lead to positive contributions to the small business sector.
“A strong arts sector is an economic asset that stimulates business activity, attracts tourism and expands a state’s work force and tax base,” the Delaware Arts Alliance website read. “The arts have been shown to be a successful and sustainable strategy for revitalizing rural areas, cities and populations struggling with poverty.”
Public arts, along with economic growth, can also increase the wellbeing of a community. A vibrant public arts scene can increase citizens’ pride in their community and foster a sense of inclusion.
In order to foster a sense of inclusion in New Castle County, the commission also plans to focus on including the public in plans for future projects in the county.
“The folks that are on the commission are very interested in the engagement process, working with the public on what they think art should be and how it should be reflected and what spaces they would like to see projects happen,” George said.
The goals for the next year of the commission include featuring public art in the redevelopment of the Newark Free Library and possibly developing a Percent for Art program to be used for private construction and renovation projects.
With a board including museum directors and visual artists to landscape architects and beyond, the expertise on the board ensures that the possibilities are limitless for the commission.
“I also just love that we have such a high caliber of people on the board,” George said. “I’m so excited about what the future holds for the commission.”