The artNET initiative presents a new way to understand and realize urban public art. It has been conceived broadly as a catalyst for the development of the city, its self-image, and economic vitality.  The projects it commissions aspire to reacquaint Toledo with its own history, enhance the visibility of the city, and motivate exploration of the city by visitors. Projects should spark the recognition of neighborhoods or districts of the city with which residents are familiar but no longer really experience. The series of projects produced might most profitably be thought of as a network or armature, one that will grow and change over time, accepting a variety of forms. One characteristic of such a network is its open-endedness, networks can adjust to the rapid social, cultural, economic, technological, and environmental changes that characterize contemporary urban conditions. Drawing on creative talent in multiple disciplines—art, media, design, landscape architecture, and architecture—each successive commission in the network should possess its own identity, and have the ability to generate a presence, visibility, and excitement. Ultimately an ensemble of these individual works and process for bringing them into being will help to leaven the cultural climate of the city and strengthen ties between the various constituencies and communities of Toledo.

The Toledo artNET initiative offers an opportunity to use art in the public realm as one element of a broadly based urban redevelopment strategy. The first project proposals for these sites will set the tone for and ambition for the quality expected from the subsequent series. The series will produce projects peer reviewed by prominent jurors and will commission public projects by artists, designers, architects, and landscape architects of the highest caliber. The series will look to cultivate and curate works across traditional disciplinary boundaries, especially those at the intersection of public art, media, environmental installation, and landscape. The process of peer review as well as the projects produced for each site will be made public in a set of public events and coordinated media campaign. As the first built projects are realized, the next round of sites will be identified in an open-ended and organic manner, community support, and addressing the diversity of conditions found in contemporary Toledo. In doing so, the Toledo artNET initiative promises to remind audiences in Toledo and beyond of the cities longstanding commitment to art as an essential element of the public realm.

Charles Waldheim ~ 2005 Toledo artNET Consultant
and AdvisorDirector of Landscape Architecture and
Associate Dean on the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design
at the University of Toronto

Mark Robbins ~ 2005 Toledo artNET Consultant
Public Artist and Dean of the School of Architecture, Syracuse University