But public art advocates say the money spent maintaining the art is a fraction of its capital value. Twenty-three pieces of public art have been added to Christchurch City Council's collection since 2010 – a 34 per cent increase. The council's Public Art Advisory Group chairman Anthony Wright said public art was a critical part of the infrastructure of a world-class city, which Christchurch aspired to be. Wright said during the last 10 years, groups including Scape Public Art and the advisory group had worked together to establish a body of public art that put Christchurch on the map. Earlier this year, the council stopped funding the purchase of new public art through its public art fund, which it had previously granted about $290,000 annually.

Source: Stuff November 25, 2018 04:10 UTC