5. What piece of public art do you like the most? How satisfied are you with the City’s approach to public art? Is there anything you would change?
Guy DUBÉ (100) - I would love to see the city help our artist have more chances to showcase their work. I want to see the Mural festival continue, public art and colour is good for the soul. I do love the Rainbow Crosswalks and Jim Deva Plaza art work.
Karin LITZCKE (101) - I don’t feel strongly about most of the public art that I have seen, but appreciate these are difficult decisions, and I can live with most of it. I particularly enjoy the laughing figures at Davie and Denman, although I thought they were more charming when surrounded by wood mulch, which harmonized better with the original patina.
Lucy MALONEY (105) - I’m pretty fond of the oversized dining table and chairs in May & Lorne Brown Park. Not only does it give me joy because I think it’s funny, but it provides an amazing space for the local community to throw birthday parties and gatherings outdoors, which was especially handy during the pandemic. I also absolutely love the murals everywhere which always reminds of how important it is to support things like the Vancouver Mural Festival and to fund the arts and working artists!
Jeanifer DECENA (106) - Public art is a living expression of our identity, culture, and community spirit. Among all forms of public art, murals resonate with me the most because they tell powerful stories—stories of resilience, migration, Indigenous heritage, activism, and creativity. They bring neighborhoods to life, turning forgotten walls into vivid, meaningful landscapes that celebrate our diversity.
However, I believe there are areas where the City can improve its approach to public art:
- Better Lighting for Murals and Public Art – Many beautiful murals fade into the darkness at night, becoming invisible or even attracting vandalism. Proper lighting installations would make these artworks more accessible, visible, and safe for people to enjoy at all hours.
- Expanding Artist Representation – We need to ensure opportunities for Indigenous, immigrant, and marginalized artists to contribute to our city’s visual storytelling. Public art should reflect all of Vancouver’s voices, not just a select few.
- Community-Driven Art Initiatives – Public art shouldn’t be limited to large commissions; it should be something that residents can take part in. Community-led mural projects, sculpture parks, and cultural installations should be funded so that neighborhoods can create and shape their own artistic narratives.
Art is one of the most powerful forms of civic engagement—it educates, provokes thought, and brings people together. It should be celebrated, protected, and expanded across Vancouver.
Sean ORR (108) - I’m a big fan of unsanctioned art, of community murals, and the stuff that Smokey D is doing can become what James C. Scott calls a “hidden transcript” – a confrontation between the powerful and the powerless. So it’s a little disappointing when they did a big anti-graffiti blitz called “Vancouver Beautification Day”, while at the same time celebrating murals which can often act as ‘artwashing’ in the aid of gentrification and displacement. I’d love to see more sanctioned spaces for community artists like Smokey D to do their work.
I’m loathe to spend too much time critiquing city-funded public art in general -because most of it is frankly rooted in a reactionary hysteria-, I still think things like the Spinning Chandelier are a bit tone deaf. But I don’t mind the poodle, I think it’s funny.
Colleen HARDWCK (109) & Theodore ABBOTT (110) - Prioritize local artists for public art. Ensure art and design are incorporated into more open space to enhance culture.
Annette REILLY (112) - One of my favorite pieces of public art is the East Van Cross by Ken Lum. As someone who found their home in East Van, I feel a deep connection to this part of the city, and the Cross represents so much of what makes it special—resilience, working-class history, and a strong sense of community. It’s not just a sculpture; it’s a symbol of East Van’s identity, reminding us of the people who have shaped this neighborhood.
Vancouver’s approach to public art has improved, but there’s still a gap between large, high-profile installations and more grassroots, community-driven projects. I’d love to see more funding go toward local artists, especially those from underrepresented communities, and more opportunities for interactive and accessible art in public spaces. Public art should reflect the diversity and energy of the city, and the best way to do that is by making sure the artists who actually live here get the chance to shape it.
List of Survey Questions:
- What is your favourite public space in the city – park, plaza, street, community centre, library, etc – and why?
- What role do you think public space should play regarding reconciliation?
- If you could bring one new thing to the Council table on the topics of public safety and wellbeing in the Downtown Eastside, what would it be?
- How important is the democratic function of public space to you? How would you ensure public spaces like parks and plazas are accessible and inclusive?
- What piece of public art do you like the most? How satisfied are you with the City’s approach to public art? Is there anything you would change?
- How do climate matters align with your public space priorities?
- What will you do to support our ‘main streets’ and shopping areas?
- What are your thoughts on the implementation of Council’s ‘road reallocation’ direction? Would you change anything?
- How do you think Vancouver’s parks should be governed and stewarded?
- Does the City do enough to fund placemaking and public space initiatives? Is there anything you would do differently?