Collections
The Boise City Department of Arts & History oversees the
following collections of artwork for the City of Boise.
DOWNTOWN AND CITY HALL
There are 45 public art projects in the downtown area and
City Hall. Downtown public art invigorates residential and
commercial zones while developing new places of beauty and
interest. It provides an extra dimension to daily life and reveals
insights about our natural surroundings, cultural history and
community connections. It encourages private investment in civic
space in downtown and deepened the goals and objectives of City
departments with capital projects. READ MORE
PUBLIC WORKS
Boise capitalized on a unique opportunity to create a new
education facility at the wastewater treatment plant. The Boise
WaterShed Environmental Education Center included eight artworks
ranging from the highly integrated pieces - cast concrete walls,
recycled tire floors and painted glass windows - to stand alone
sculptural pieces in the courtyards and landscaping. READ
MORE
PARKS AND RECREATION
If you pick any neighborhood in Boise you will most likely
discover a park facility. Parks and Recreation understands the
value public art adds to the development of your beautiful park
facilities. Funding is typically budgeted for small scale public
art projects, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per project. Each
artwork develops with site-specific considerations in mind such as
location, history, neighborhood and the environment. READ
MORE
POLICE AND FIRE
The Police and Fire Departments share a headquarters at
City Hall West. Cast concrete walls, lighting and security elements
are incorporated into the plaza to greet visitors and employees,
and use imagery to remind us of the historical impact these
services have had on Boise residents. READ MORE
LIBRARY
When entering a Boise library you instantly
become part of that neighborhood. These integral public spaces are
enhanced not only by there architecture and superior services but
by beautifully integrated public artworks. READ
MORE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The Boise IT Department provides information and
technological systems to the City of Bosie. The east side of Citiy
Hall has a gallery that represets both graphic arts and
modern age of communications. READ MORE
AIRPORT
Boise Airport hosts the largest concentration of art in a
public facility in Idaho. Nine public artworks by local and
regional artists are integrated in to the floors, security walls,
ticketing lobby and public gathering spaces. The art focuses on the
character of Southwest Idaho including imagery of maps, salmon,
rivers and mountains. The color palette works in tandem with the
architecture. READ MORE
BOISE VISUAL CHRONICLE
Boise Visual Chronicle is a collection of artworks that
reflect the diverse expression and concerns of artists responding
to life in Boise. The collection originated in 1996 with funding
from Greater Boise Auditorium District (GBAD) and continued further
expansion with funding support from GBAD, Capitol City Development
Corporation (CCDC) and the City of Boise. Artwork is acquired or
commissioned periodically. Works from the collection are exhibited
at the Boise Center on the Grove, Boise City Hall, CCDC offices
and Boise Airport. The City of Boise owns and maintains
the Boise Visual Chronicle. READ MORE
TRAFFIC BOXS AND TRANSIT SHELTERS
In partnership with Downtown Boise Association, and Ada
County Highway District, the downtown traffic boxes that operate
our intersection streetlights have been redesigned by local
artists. These everyday utilitarian devices are transformed
into interesting and engaging public art pieces. READ
MORE