In his role as Public Arts & Artists Programs Coordinator for the Oregon Arts Commission Ryan Burghard builds community through creative placemaking by overseeing the innovative 1% for Public Art program. He talks to us about the value of public art, the layered benefits of art in public places for both visitors and residents and Travel Oregon’s support of the ‘50 for 50’ campaign.
Can you tell us about Oregon’s 1% for Public Art program?
The Oregon Arts Commission’s Percent for Art in Public Places program was established by legislation in 1975 and states that 1% of the direct construction costs for new building projects or remodels on state property (with budgets exceeding $100,000) goes toward the acquisition of public artworks. The program is managed through a public-led acquisition process, which involves a nine-member selection committee that helps oversee selection, acquisition and commissioning of public art for projects at more than 25 state agencies. We bring together people with diverse perspectives to find common ground and create a shared vision for each agency or project. We work closely with community representatives to ensure the artwork we acquire or commission fully represents the values, unique qualities and heritage of that community.
What is the ‘50 for 50’ campaign?
The ‘50 for 50’ campaign is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places program. It was one of the first state programs of its kind, and it’s a major milestone for us. To honor the occasion, we selected 50 artworks from a collection of over 2,700 pieces statewide. These works, drawn from all seven regions of Oregon, reflect the depth and impact of the public art embedded in civic life and communities across the state. It’s an invitation for people to travel across Oregon visiting what is essentially an open-air museum.
We’re creating digital maps, a website and promotional storytelling with the goal of encouraging Oregonians and visitors to experience the works firsthand. It’s a celebration of five decades of collaboration between artists and communities, highlighting how public art has shaped the places where we live, work and study. It’s also a way to position Oregon’s collection as a museum without walls.
How is Travel Oregon supporting the campaign?
At the Oregon Arts Commission, we work in a specialized field and know where we excel and where we could use support. Travel Oregon was a natural partner because of their statewide expertise in travel marketing and promotion. They are helping to frame the artworks as destinations worth seeking out, not just for artistic value, but for the stories they tell and the communities they represent. Travel Oregon is producing two core promotional tools: a guide to help people decide how to visit works across the state and a short-form video to promote the campaign online. We want the “50 for 50” story to feel accessible and adventurous, and Travel Oregon is helping us make it a part of people’s journeys. We’re grateful for the partnership.
Why is art in public places important?
Public art is unique because it meets us where we are. Unlike a gallery or museum, the artworks are woven into daily life, in a state park, at a university or along a trailhead. It connects us to our shared history, our environment and the creative voices that help define Oregon.
Each work reflects the culture of the community and fosters pride in place. Public art offers everyone equal access to beauty and storytelling, contemplation and reflection. And because it’s tied to building projects, it turns infrastructure into inspiration and transforms how we move through the world and see our public spaces.
What is the connection between art and tourism?
Public art transforms places into experiences, whether it’s a sculpture, a mural, a painting or an installation. It invites people to pause, reflect and engage with a location, whether it’s a public plaza or a campus, a state building or a trailhead. From a tourism perspective, public art can be a destination in its own right or an enriching stop along the way. It helps visitors understand Oregon’s values and creativity, making their travels more memorable. People might string together a trip to see all of the art or visitors might stop and see art along their way somewhere else. Our partnership with Travel Oregon ensures that people not only see these artworks but plan trips around them.
Does public art improve quality of life for residents?
Yes. The Percent for Public Art program is community led, bringing people together to reflect on what their community values and wants to see represented. It’s more about the artist sparking conversation, strengthening connections and building bridges. This process helps us define the character of a place and create a shared sense of belonging—what does it mean to be from this place? Each agency’s collection is unique and helps to contribute to the entirety of the state’s collection. The Department of Forestry houses its own part of the collection, the University of Oregon has another, and so on. When viewed together, the collections reveal a statewide portrait of Oregon’s diversity and unity. Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places celebrates the uniqueness of individual voices while helping us shape a collective one. It’s something we’ve done for 50 years, and something we will continue to do for decades to come.
Explore the 50 for 50 interactive map and start planning your public art journey through Oregon today.
Photo: Ryan Burghard, Public Arts & Artist Programs Coordinator and Sarah Baylinson, Art Collection & Artist Services Specialist