Comparative Analysis of Public Art Engagement Across Urban and Suburban Communities

Thesis Abstract

Public art programs shape urban and suburban sensory landscapes and influence community participation, yet comparative evidence on how engagement diverges across these contexts remains fragmented. This study investigates the differential engagement with public art between urban and suburban communities, addressing the problem of inconsistent understandings of accessibility, interaction, and perceived value that hinder scalable policy and design interventions. The aim is to identify determinants of engagement, compare engagement levels across contexts, and illuminate how design, placement, and community dynamics mediate public art interaction. Specific objectives are to (1) quantify levels of visitor engagement with public art in urban and suburban neighborhoods, (2) examine the influence of visibility, accessibility, programming, and community identity on engagement, (3) assess perceived inclusivity and cultural relevance of public artworks, and (4) develop a context-sensitive framework for practitioners to optimize public art strategies in diverse settings. The study adopts a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. The quantitative phase surveys 1,200 residents (600 urban, 600 suburban) sampled through stratified random sampling to measure engagement intensity, frequency of interaction, attitudes, and perceived inclusivity using a validated Public Art Engagement Scale. Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping identifies artwork locations, accessibility features, and proximité to transit nodes. The qualitative phase conducts 40 semi-structured interviews (20 urban, 20 suburban) with artists, urban designers, local officials, and community organizers to explore design intentions, programming decisions, and stakeholder perceptions. In addition, 20 focus groups (10 urban, 10 suburban) with residents (n=8 per group) examine interpretive narratives and values attached to artworks. Data collection instruments include a structured survey, interview guides, and focus group prompts, all piloted prior to administration. The study employs robust validity and reliability checks, including Cronbach’s alpha for the engagement scale (target ? ? .85), content validity by expert panel review, and triangulation across instruments. Quantitative data are analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests and ANOVA to compare engagement by context, and multiple regression analyses to identify predictors of engagement, with model specification controlling for age, education, income, and prior art exposure. Qualitative data are analyzed thematically through NVivo, applying inductive coding and deductive frameworks derived from theory, with intercoder reliability checks (Cohen’s ? ? .80). A convergent synthesis integrates quantitative results with qualitative findings to generate an explanatory framework. Expected findings include higher overall engagement in urban areas driven by greater artwork density, programmatic events, and higher transit accessibility, yet suburban engagement may exhibit deeper personal relevance and longer dwell times in localized artworks. The study anticipates that perceived inclusivity and cultural relevance mediate the relationship between context and engagement, while proximity to programming and social networks amplify participation. Theoretically, the research engages the Uses and Gratifications Theory to interpret user-led motivations for interaction with public art and employs the Place-Based Theory of Cultural Engagement to explain how physical and social environments shape engagement patterns. The conceptual model will integrate factors at micro (individual attitudes), meso (institutional strategies, programming), and macro (urban planning, governance) levels, clarifying pathways by which context influences engagement. The study contributes to knowledge by offering a context-sensitive, empirically grounded framework that explains how urban versus suburban settings shape public art engagement, informing design guidelines, programming strategies, and policy decisions aimed at increasing inclusivity, accessibility, and sustained interaction with public art. Methodologically, it demonstrates a rigorous mixed-methods approach to comparative public art research, including a replicate-ready measurement instrument and a cross-context analytic model. Practically, findings will guide municipal arts offices, landscape architects, and community organizations in tailoring artwork placement, companion programming, and community co-creation processes to maximize meaningful engagement across diverse communities. The conclusion will emphasize actionable recommendations for expanding accessibility, fostering local relevance, and leveraging partnerships to sustain public art initiatives in both urban and suburban contexts.