Nearly 90 pieces of art grace the parks, plazas, and other public spaces in downtown Des Moines, IA. But drawing people through the downtown to see them has been a challenge.Now, the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation is working to bring all of the art together by creating a 6.6-mile trail.
Sidewalks along the Art Route will feature painted circles about 20 feet apart, and chevrons pointing in the direction of the art. Additionally, six crosswalks will be painted by a well-known street artist. “It will be experiencing public art while walking on public art,” says Tiffany Tauscheck, chief communications officer with the Partnership.
A smartphone app will give the project a high-tech touch. It identifies art near the user and provides details about each piece, links to artist websites, and other information.
Art Route is being designed to allow for additional offshoots as more public art is installed. The trail was also designed with an eye toward economic benefits. “There are about 90 businesses along the trail, so this is an opportunity to drive more traffic into those, as well,” says Tauscheck.
The full article appeared in our print edition. To always get the full story, read Downtown Idea Exchange.
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