Artful Infrastructure Program

Public Art, Outside of the Box

Traffic control boxes serve an important infrastructure role in our community every day. Now, the boxes also serve as canvases for local artists.

The City of Tallahassee “Artful Infrastructure Program” expands on “Art of the Box,” a successful pilot program in partnership with KCCI, to enhance streetscapes and bring art outdoors into our community.

About the Program
The City of Tallahassee’s vision is to be “A creative capital city that supports a strong community with vibrant neighborhoods; an innovative economic and educational hub serving diverse and passionate people, protecting our natural resources and preserving our unique character.” To advance this vision, the City’s Five-Year Strategic Plan outlines priority areas including Public Infrastructure and Quality of Life:

• “To be a creative and inclusive community with beautiful public spaces that protect and promote resources and culture.” Priority Area: Quality of Life
• “To be a leading publicly-owned utility that supports a growing and progressive community; and To be a city with an efficient public transit network supported by well-connected roads, sidewalks, transit amenities, and public transportation.” Priority Area: Public Infrastructure

Public art has long been a beloved feature in Tallahassee and the City first debuted artwork on its traffic control boxes in 2012. By featuring local artists’ work on publicly owned assets, these efforts help preserve the unique characteristics of a community or neighborhood. Installing public artwork on infrastructure is another way the City is supporting artists and working with neighborhoods to enhance their identity and preserve their history. As part of the “Art of the Box” Pilot Project, which was launched in 2020 in partnership with Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI), traffic control boxes were wrapped with local artists’ work at locations around the community. Following this successful pilot project, traffic boxes were wrapped in coordination with LeMoyne Arts and Maclay School. Look for a box sponsored by Gilchrist Elementary School coming soon.