Making a city healthy through public art A case study of the city of Rotterdam

Abstract

The council of Rotterdam aspires to make healthy living possible for all inhabitants. Public art is a factor which can improve public health. Public art consists of all art forms which are performed or materialised in, or visible from public space and can take shape in a single object or incorporate the entire site. It can stimulate exercise by making environments more attractive; provides focal points for spaces, turning them into destinations for people to walk or cycle to; can strengthen the local identity of a place, creating mutual understanding, respect and appreciation for each other, which can improve social connections and local; and can help, through the language of imagination, with transitions in life and in the city. Therefore, public art contributes to people’s resilience and ability to self-manage. Yet, it was found that public art does not play a very big role in Rotterdam’s spatial policies on health promotion. Public art does not get a lot of attention in the policies. When it is mentioned, it is not further explained except in the general notion of ‘something with art and culture’, nor tied to specific plans and often gets overshadowed by the council’s focus on greenery.