At CODAworx, our mission is simple and ambitious: to prove that public art changes the world. It strengthens community identity. It builds social connection. It improves well-being. It revitalizes spaces. And yes — it drives economic growth.
Today, more than 20,000 public art projects are documented on the CODAworx platform, representing over $5 billion USD in commissions. That is not a niche activity. That is an industry.
For the past decade, CODAworx has been exploring how numbers can help us tell our story more effectively. One of the earliest projects posted on the CODAworx website in 2014 was submitted by the U.K. artist Peter Fink. Peter shared a project he created in Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo, Italy. His vibrant installation transformed the historic square into a pop-up outdoor living room — and drew more than 250,000 visitors in just two weeks, a 400% increase year over year.
That was the moment when we realized: Art moves hearts. Data moves budgets.
We are learning that data speaks the language of city policy and decision makers. It reframes the conversation from cost to one of investment.
Consider the impact of the BLINK festival in Cincinnati. In 2024, the four-day event attracted 2.2 million visitors, generated 1,687 jobs, contributed $200 million to the local economy, and produced more than $7 million in tax revenue — while paying artists over $1.5 million. These figures were possible because the BLINK organizers had meticulously tracked attendance, spending, and engagement.
Or look at the newly launched Boston Public Art Triennial. In its inaugural year, it presented 19 new commissions across 24 sites, partnered with more than 75 organizations, hosted 100+ free events, and generated over 300 press mentions. One sentence. Massive impact. That is strategic storytelling powered by numbers.
Contextual data
Contextual data is not economic data, but rather adds insight into understanding of human behavior. And it can really help us tell the story.
In public art, contextual data goes beyond the financial impact (attendance, revenue, jobs created) and instead answers questions like:
- How did people feel about the space before and after the artwork?
- Did perceptions of safety or pride increase?
- Did residents feel more connected to their neighborhood?
- Did visitors stay longer or return more often?
- Did people talk about the place differently?
Contextual data measures human experience, perception, and behavior in relation to the work. Research coming out of Ryerson University in Canada demonstrates the powerful impact that public art has on the people in a community:
- a 50% increase in time spent at locations with placemaking elements
- a 53% in positive perceptions of the environment
- a 77% increase in the likelihood of individuals sharing information about the location
- a 63% increase in positive feelings about the environment
- a 53% increase in a stronger sense of connection to the enhanced spaces
In the public art world, contextual data is powerful because it captures the why behind the numbers. It helps policymakers, developers, and funders understand not just that something worked — but how and why it mattered. We are learning that data speaks the language of city policy and decision makers. It reframes the conversation from cost to one of investment.
Reframing Public Art
Data also reframes public art as a financial investment that pays dividends. The American Planning Association has reported that public art installations can increase surrounding property values by 20–35%. That language resonates in city halls and planning offices around the world.
Importantly, data does not replace creativity — data can amplify the message. When Taiwanese residents helped artist Jason Klimoski collect 30,000 pounds of plastic waste to build a seven-story sculpture, the numbers deepened the meaning of the work. Measurement became part of the message.
The power of public art is emotional. The power of data is strategic.
Together, they help us build sustainable programs, strengthen advocacy, improve transparency, and guide smarter policy decisions. They allow us to reframe public art not as a cost, but as an investment — one that generates cultural, social, and economic returns.
If we want the world to understand the full value of what we do, we must tell the whole story. And that story is stronger with numbers.
