In public art, the paradigm is shifting from ‘look but don’t touch’ towards interactive displays and creations that involve visitors. Accordingly, this study examined some of the factors that lead audiences to interact and engage with public art. Systematic observations of the ‘users’ of 11 public sculptures were conducted in Brisbane, Australia. The investigation revealed that the design features of public art are key to encouraging or deterring visitors. Interaction levels are higher on weekends than on weekdays whereas factors such as the time of day and the location of artworks (parkland, CBD, or neighbourhood) are less influential.

To cite this article:

Caroline Milne & Dorina Pojani (2022) Public art in cities: what makes it engaging and interactive? Journal of Urban Design, DOI: 10.1080/13574809.2022.2121272

This article was based on Caroline Milne’s award winning thesis at UQ. Well done, Caroline!