Columbus volunteers join CAAC to beautify Fifth Street Eos sculpture

The sculptures, murals, and other creative installations that enrich communities like Columbus need ongoing attention and care — and it’s worth doing. Not just to preserve and protect the artworks, but to ensure their enduring positive impact on all who live, work, and travel through our little corner of Indiana. 

“[Public art] is a type of placemaking, or a strategy for equitable community development that centers the needs of people and communities in designing shared public spaces. Although public art can be aesthetically valuable, case studies and research have demonstrated that public art can offer critical benefits to residents, such as improved public safety and well-being.” – Urban Institute

It’s why public art management is a pillar of our work at Columbus Area Arts Council (CAAC), and why we established Public Art Longevity Fund (PALF) to restore, maintain, and sustain our public art for generations to come. It’s also why we got our hands dirty last month, teaming up with four amazing organizations and over a dozen volunteers to plant flowers at Eos (2006) by Dessa Kirk!

Joined by Toyota Material Handling, Landmark Columbus, City of Columbus, and Mill Race Park River Rats, we came together with our neighbors to make one of downtown Columbus's favorite public art spots even more beautiful. To quote Tyler Nickerson, who coordinated the River Rat volunteers, "It gave us an opportunity to see that when a group of individuals comes together for a common goal, we can do amazing things for our community."

We are so grateful to all who showed up. 

Learn more about how we preserve and protect the public artworks that shape our city’s identity. Or, if you've got your own ideas about how to make a positive difference in Columbus, Mill Race Park River Rats are open to new members – reach out and get involved!