Unpacking Public Art, Activations, Corporate Collections & More
Art consultants help shape how we experience places through art. They are the creative strategists working behind the scenes to bring cultural depth and storytelling into buildings, streets, offices and public spaces. Their work spans planning, commissioning, and delivering artworks that reflect community identity, support placemaking, and inspire connection. Whether it’s a landmark sculpture in a public park or a curated digital display in a hotel lobby, consultants manage the entire journey from concept to installation.
Public Art Strategy
A core part of an art consultant’s role is creating public art strategies for urban areas and new developments. This means collaborating with councils, architects, and developers to ensure that art is not just decoration but purposefully integrated into the built environment. They help identify key locations, commission artists, and navigate approvals and logistics.
When done well, public art becomes part of a place’s DNA. It can celebrate local stories, enhance identity, and offer more than aesthetic value. Light installations can improve safety. Artworks can help with wayfinding or create gathering points. Many cities require developers to include public art as part of planning approvals, and consultants ensure these investments create genuine cultural and community value.
Art Activation
Beyond permanent artworks, consultants also lead temporary and experiential projects known as art activations. These can include pop-up installations, interactive performances, workshops, or transforming vacant shopfronts into temporary galleries. Activations are agile tools that inject life and energy into spaces – drawing in foot traffic, engaging communities, and testing ideas for future projects.
A standout example is when Art Pharmacy worked with Campbelltown City Council to activate Queen Street by turning empty storefronts into vibrant local art displays. The result was a reimagined main street that sparked joy and reconnected the community with their environment.
Art consultants turn creative ideas into real-world experiences that shape identity, spark connection, and bring lasting value to places and communities.
Corporate Collections
In the workplace, art consultants help companies build collections that reflect brand values, enhance staff wellbeing, and leave a lasting impression on clients. Instead of choosing art randomly, they align each piece with the company’s story, mission, and tone. This could mean selecting pieces that express innovation, creativity, tradition, or leadership.
Consultants also consider how people interact with the space. They look at where the artwork sits, how it relates to light and architecture, and how it complements the flow of the room. They may also curate rotating exhibitions, work with local artists, and create cohesive visual narratives across multiple sites.
Embracing Digital Art
Digital art is playing a larger role in both public and corporate spaces. Consultants are helping clients embrace screens, projections, interactive works, and augmented reality to create flexible and dynamic experiences. These mediums allow people to engage with art in fresh and exciting ways.
For example, a digital mural in a hotel lobby can evolve throughout the day or respond to guest interactions. A public square might host a projection-mapped artwork that draws crowds in the evening. Consultants help clients navigate the technology, connect with digital artists, and ensure the work aligns with their vision and space.
Driving Social Impact
Art consultants are increasingly focused on creating meaningful impact through their work. They engage local communities, elevate diverse voices, and design projects that leave lasting social and cultural legacies. This could include murals co-created with young people, commissions for First Nations artists, or installations that share stories of local heritage.
Some consultants formally measure their impact, tracking artist demographics, local involvement, and community outcomes. Art Pharmacy, for instance, worked with over 300 artists across 73 art forms in one year, including 53 First Nations creatives. They were also the first arts consultancy globally to become a certified B Corporation, committing to strong social and environmental values.
Why It Matters
Art consultants are more than art pickers. They are curators, project managers, cultural producers, and placemaking experts. They help developers, councils, and businesses use art to enrich environments, tell stories, and bring people together. With the right guidance, art becomes more than just decoration. It becomes a strategy, an experience, and a catalyst for positive change.
Article by Emilya Colliver