Public Art can play a part in keeping our streets safe for marginalised groups and here’s how to do it.

By? Serra Ataman , MTArt Public Art Director.

Can we design public spaces that are inclusive, enriching and safe? Yes.

So why aren’t we???

The way cities are built shape our collective experiences around safety and inclusion. This manifests in terms of ability, race and, indeed gender. For women and underrepresented groups including people with disabilities, the public spaces we move through require constant thought and negotiation. Do we feel safe in that park? Walking down that street? How about after dark?

In Feminist City, feminist geographer Leslie Kern asserts that the most public spaces are not designed with women in mind. This often showcases itself with poor street lighting, reduced accessibility or poor transport infrastructure. According to Kern, the planning systems in urban areas can make a huge impact on people’s experiences of safety. At MTArt, we certainly agree. In our work, we find that councils and community groups play an important role in improving safety and inclusion in public spaces for marginalised groups and one key way is through public art. ?

Public art is a long-term, strategic solution that has the potential to bring powerful messaging and cultural change. On a practical level, it can increase footfall and therefore passive security measures, foster greater care for the surrounding environment, and welcome underserved community members through thoughtful programming. Recently for the Black History Month in the UK, we worked with French Senegalese artist Delphine Diallo on a special commission by the Crown Estate with the support of Getty Images archives. Delphine’s artwork consisted of photos dating back to the 1800s, telling of black history stories, beyond enslavement and colonisation. It is displayed in one of London’s busiest areas, Piccadilly Circus, with a daily footfall of more than 50.000 people.? Another strong example is from Marine Hardeman’s proposal for Art Night, illuminating manhole grills in London to emphasise a sense of safety at night through an artistic intervention.

Finally, another good example is the art campaign we carried out with the Team London Bridge alongside Network Rail and Costain, commissioning our artist Jennifer Abessira to create a temporary and a creative intervention off the back of easing pandemic restrictions and returning back to commuting. Jennifer has created 'Don't Think Twice', an assembled collection of London Bridge scenes that symbolise the area's heritage and contemporary character. In addition to the railway passengers, Guy's Hospital patients, King's College London students and local residents had a chance to appreciate a beautiful snapshot of the area's cultural identity.?

We believe art can transform communities over time because we’ve seen it happen, but also because research backs this claim. According to the recent report Cities Alive: Designing Cities that Work for Women, published by Arup in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Liverpool, key areas of focus for improving women’s lives in cities include safety, equity, wellbeing and enrichment. The report wisely calls for a new gender-responsive approach to planning and design and includes a wide range of case studies and supporting recommendations for city planners, developers, community groups and city authorities, globally. As part of the safety and security strategies, the report suggests partnering with local artists to raise awareness through creative methods. When we wrote the Euston Town Cultural Strategy with Camden Council in 2020, we found working with different parties helped make sure all voices were heard pre-public art implementation stage.

Injecting public art into a planning process is not the only answer to resolve safety in public spaces, however, it can be a strong catalyst. What’s more, involving the people who will use these spaces to contribute to the public art plan goes even further for inclusivity. A process of co-design can be imparted through a series of workshops with artists, local community groups, and women’s organisations to identify the specific barriers and opportunities around the use of particular public spaces for particular social groups. With strong community collaboration and a gender-conscious planning system, smart public art strategies can serve as a form of public social justice that the women and underrepresented groups in our cities deserve.?