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Public art


Public art is art that has been made for public spaces, either outdoors or in public buildings. Public art pieces can be in a variety of media and can include temporary as well as permanent work.

There are a range of public art works across County Durham. i see public artwork County Durham (PDF) [962KB]  provides an overview of some of the key works and where they can be found.

If you are considering asking an artist to produce a new piece of public art, there is a wealth of resources available online to guide you through the commissioning process.

  • Public Art Online provides guidelines on the commissioning process from the perspective of the commissioner and a range of case studies.
  • ixia is the public art think tank, providing guidance on the role of art in the public realm.
  • Axisweb has a searchable database of contemporary artists and curators.

If you are developing a larger-scale public art project which potentially has major impact for communities, we may be able to offer a limited amount of support to the project. Please Contact Arts Development.

Planning permission

Many fixed art projects may need planning consent and you should Contact Planning.



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