WVXU: Do murals impact a city's economics, quality of life?
UC researchers embark on study of how public art impacts vitality and commerce
Urban design researcher Hyesun Jeong was interviewed by WVXU regarding a new research project that will look at how murals impact vitality and commerce in five US cities, including Cincinnati.
Hyesun Jeong, assistant professor in UC’s School of Design. Photo/provided.
Jeong, an assistant professor in DAAP's School of Design, received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (DEA) to expand on her prior research of murals in downtown Cincinnati.
“We tend to just neglect the impact of art and focus more on the buildings and forms," she states, explaining that prior research found increased foot traffic where public art is located such as in Over-the-Rhine which has 55 murals.
According to the article, officials tout the impact of large arts events like four-day mural and light festival BLINK — which they say drew an estimated 2 million people and created $126 million in economic impact in 2022.
Jeong will use geolocation data and field studies to determine how all types of public art influences cities. Public art can be murals, statues, museums and the like.
Photo of mural in Covington, Kentucky/Lisa Britton/UC Marketing + Brand
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