As you travel around Burien have you ever wondered about the dozens of murals that stretch across buildings throughout the city, the traffic signal box wrapped with artwork on your local street corner, or the whimsical clock on 152nd St? All of these are examples of public art. Public art is any art that is in a public space. Artists can create artworks with the help of city and regional public art grants, or financial support from community and businesses. Sometimes the artist uses their own funds to pay for the artwork.
The Burien Arts Commission, a volunteer board of nine Burien residents who are appointed by the City Council, is responsible for planning public art projects in Burien. The Arts Commission recommends funding allocations for the annual City of Burien sponsored Arts and Culture Grants and supports arts in the community through events and residency programs in the schools.
In 2020, the Arts Commission and City staff started a project to develop a long-range art plan. This five- to ten-year plan will help guide how Burien’s public art funding is used, what types of art will be installed in Burien, and where it will be installed. The Arts Commission has been busy over the past year researching art plans from other cities, gaining a better understanding of the importance of public art, and discussing how best to gather ideas from the community.
Help create Burien’s public art plan
This is where you come into the picture. To create an art plan that truly reflects the community, we need your input. How do you feel about public art? What public art brings you joy? Where would you like to see more public art in Burien?
Explore the new Burien Public Art Map and then take the survey and let us know your thoughts!
City staff will compile the results from the survey and present the findings to the Arts Commission, who will use it to create a public art plan that reflects your input. Community members can also provide input during the public comment portion of Arts Commission and City Council public meetings. The plan will then be presented to the City Council for their final approval.
