In 2003, after the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County, Mayor Abramson wanted a citywide view of art in public spaces. As a result, he created MACOPA, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee On Public Art.

MACOPA has three goals: develop new public art projects (temporary and permanent); set public art policy and planning; and conserve the city's public art collection. To achieve those goals, MACOPA researched other cities and public art programs around the world. MACOPA interviewed a variety of experts on creating and conserving art in the public realm. As a result, MACOPA advised the Mayor on the value of creating the first-ever Public Art Plan for Louisville Metro.

In 2008 Creative Time was selected to develop this master plan with MACOPA. The money to pay for the plan was for public art, and did not come from other programs. The plan began in August 2008, and completion is expected by Fall 2009.

The Public Art Plan will . . .

• Clarify the definition of public art
• Identify opportunities for art in the public realm as a way to improve communities
• Recognize the 2003 merger of Louisville and Jefferson County governments
• Set public art policies
• Identify a potential organizational structure charged with the promotion, establishing selection processes, and adopting policies for the care of public art
• Assist in identifying a framework for documenting and maintaining existing public art
• Identify potential funding sources for the care and creation of public art
• Engage with the public in expanding its understanding of the value of public art
• Develop action steps for public art that address those achievable within 3-5 years as well as long-term initiatives
• Identify, with funding options, a temporary public art work and a permanent art work