Evaluation in Public Art: The Light Logic Exhibition

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with evaluation in public art, drawing on a study of Light Logic, an exhibition of drawings, paintings and interactive digital works, conducted by Site Gallery, Sheffield in association with UK and Australian researchers. Evaluating public art requires methods that suit the needs of practitioners undertaking novel types of art projects. The practitioners involved are curators, artists and gallery personnel with responsibility for different aspects of the complex business of creating and installing an interactive gallery show. The chapter describes the evaluation study, including the planning and preparation that was undertaken by the gallery staff and the researchers, the information gathering methods, as well as reports on the results from a number of points of view. In particular, advice is drawn from the study that can inform further evaluation exercises in public galleries.