City Of Suwanee Announces Public Art Capital Campaign

The City of Suwanee has launched its first-ever capital campaign to raise $1.25 million in private contributions to support the inclusion of three new public art pieces in the Town Center Park Expansion. Suwanee’s public art is funded entirely through sponsor support; no tax dollars are used, the city said in a news release.

The city completed a fundraising feasibility study in 2018 and started the Art for All campaign this summer with the first major (and, to date, largest) commitment of $100,000 from Quantum National Bank.

The Art for All campaign has also been chosen by the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia as one of the highlighted nonprofits at its annual Good 2 Give Gala on August 17. The event will host 700 philanthropic Gwinnett County residents.

“People realize the arts are a big economic development piece. When a company decides where it’s going to move or grow, it looks to arts and culture, especially in the Atlanta region,” Doug Shipman, chief executive pfficer of the Woodruff Arts Center, said in the release.

The city recently committed $16 million to fund an extension of Town Center Park; upon completion, this public space will be one of the largest urban parks in metro Atlanta. The additional $1.25 million will fund three signature art pieces: An interactive, signature installation; a gateway entrance piece; and an installation in the railroad underpass.

“While Suwanee provides the infrastructure of new parks and green spaces, it is the support of private citizens and businesses that provides the public art that has played such a significant role in what Suwanee does, what Suwanee is, and how Suwanee is viewed,” assistant city manager Denise Brinson said in the release. “With the help of our citizens, we will continue to elevate the role of public art and the impact of artistic engagement in our community.”