Use of English

Public Art in Cities

Public art is often discussed in terms of beauty, but its role in cities goes far (0) BEYOND decoration. A well-chosen mural or sculpture can help give a neighbourhood its own identity and even encourage people to take more (1) .......... in the area where they live. City planners also point (2) .......... that public art can make streets feel more welcoming and can turn empty spaces into places where people want to stop and spend time. At the same time, not everyone agrees on what makes art successful. Some people argue that money should be spent on services rather than on works whose value is difficult to (3) .......... . Others, however, believe that public art can bring communities together by giving residents something to talk (4) .......... and share. In some cases, it can even attract visitors and give local businesses a welcome (5) .......... . For this reason, many councils now try to involve local people in the planning process. If residents are asked to take (6) .......... in choosing a design, they are more likely to feel connected to it. As a result, the artwork is less likely to be seen as something imposed (7) .......... above, and more likely to become a source of local pride. In the long (8) .........., that may be its greatest value.