Cedar Rapids invites public input for visual arts master plan

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids invites public input in the creation of a Visual Arts Master Plan. The Visual Arts Master Plan will use input from residents and stakeholders to define a vision for the city’s public art program. The plan will develop a set of initiatives and implementation steps to achieve these community goals over the next five to 10 years. The goal is to help advance the current public art program to be more vibrant, interactive and inclusive, better representing the Cedar Rapids’ community.

Public outreach will run from Thursday to Saturday, and will include an open house, a drop-in happy hour for informal engagement and discussion about local art, and several pop-up events throughout the community.

The public outreach process will invite residents to offer feedback in a variety of areas, including:

• The impact they want public art to have in Cedar Rapids;

• What type of public art they wish to see in Cedar Rapids;

• What locations they would like to see additional public art;

• How public art can make a difference in Cedar Rapids.

Public Input Opportunities

• An open house will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave. SE. Drop in anytime to share feedback on current public art and share suggestions for encouraging more vibrant, interactive art displays. Guests required to wear masks.

• A Visual Art Happy Hour also will be held on Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at The Bohemian, 1029 Third St. SE. Enjoy informal conversation and discussion with city and consultant staff about public art, and what you’d like to see added to the public art program. Drop in anytime.

• Residents also are encouraged to take an online survey and share feedback on the city’s public art and what they would like to see planned in the future. The survey link is at https://qrgo.page.link/YsKJr. The survey will close Sept. 10.

Cedar Rapids currently has a variety of public art displayed throughout the community. To view an interactive map, with photos and a description of current public art, visit www.cityofcr.com/VAC.