While both the Culture Plan Update and Public Art Strategy were jointly developed and connected with shared goals and priorities, they were presented separately to Council as each plan has its own unique set of goals and actions. The Public Art Strategy was approved in June 2025.
Public art is increasingly recognized as a vital element of city building, adding immense value to public spaces, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening a city’s attractiveness and competitive advantage. Cities known for their defining public art landscapes have often achieved this through strong leadership, supported by consistent investment, policies, and cross-departmental collaboration that enable public art to flourish.
As a result, public art becomes a defining feature of daily life, with benefits that are far reaching, including fostering connection and pride among residents, improving mental health and safety, and creating a distinctive and appealing destination for visitors. Cities with successful public art programs have not only strengthened their civic identity but also driven cultural tourism, economic growth, and long-term community well-being.
Goals
The goals of the Public Art Strategy are to:
- Equip the City of Barrie with a 10-year vision, set of goals, thematic guidelines, and definitions of the types, roles, and locations of public art in Barrie. These are intended to be utilized by City staff and partners to support the acquisition of new public art across the city, and to establish a clear framework for creating a cohesive and impactful collection.
- Outline current best practices in community engagement and artist selection to support City staff in implementing public art projects.
- Provide recommendations to update the current Public Art Policy (2012) based on best practices for governing, funding, and implementing public art projects to support the continued sustainability and growth of Barrie’s Public Art Collection.