Public Artwork in Derby

Written by Rob:

In a previous post, Murray suggested it would be a good idea to have artwork in places like the Market Hall and on buildings around the city, and I’d like to expand on this a little. Here are a few reasons why artwork could improve Derby:

It would brighten up the place

Derby looks grey and bland in places, and one of the things that could help brighten it up a bit is dotting artwork around the city. A brighter city could mean brighter moods.

It would encourage a healthier lifestyle

Some good things about outdoor artwork are the fresh air and the exercise it provides. An art trail could even be set up across the city, similar to the Ram Trail last year. Not only does this encourage walking but it also helps people explore the city.

It would make artwork more accessible
The artwork dotted across the city would be free to access – there’d be no need to book a ticket or timeslot. Instead, you could visit the artwork(s) as and when suited you.

It would promote local artists
Who better to create the artwork for the city than artists who actually live here? What’s more, what better way to promote their work?

It would be a great way to celebrate diversity
Art has always been a great tool for communicating a message. Diversity seems more important now than it has before. And so why not have artwork that celebrates our differences? Hopefully, it would bring us that little bit more together.


Can you think of any other reasons why public artwork would be good for Derby?