People love the arts. According to a 2023 Ipsos poll, 71% of respondents said that arts gave them “pure pleasure” when they participated or experienced them, and 79% said they had visited an art exhibit in the past year. However, only 51% believe everyone has equal access to the arts. Public art is one way to expand access while showcasing local communities — and immersive technology is the key.
In this edition of The AV Take blog series, we talk to Behnaz Fard, Panasonic strategic marketing manager, about the state of public art and how Panasonic AV technology is expanding creative possibilities in the field.
Q: When we refer to “public art,” how does this differ from more standard art exhibitions?
Fard: Public art differs from traditional art exhibitions in that it exists in shared, open spaces, making it accessible to everyone — free of charge and without barriers. Unlike standard exhibitions, which are often housed in galleries or museums with controlled environments, public art is woven into the fabric of daily life, engaging diverse audiences in meaningful and culturally related ways.
What are some current examples of public art?
Fard: Projects like the Magic Mural Art Wall, Luminex, BLINK Festival, and Let’s Glow SF are great recent examples of how public art is evolving.
Q: What benefits do AV technologies provide to artists and audiences?
Fard: Technology is transforming public art by blending digital and physical worlds to create completely new kinds of experiences. These new art experiences are opening up fresh possibilities for audience engagement and artistic expression.
As a technology provider, our role is to bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical solutions. By integrating cutting-edge technology, we enhance creativity, accessibility, and affordability in public art installations. Whether through projection mapping, immersive digital experiences, or interactive installations, our goal is to ensure that technology serves as a tool to empower artists rather than limit them.
Do public art installations expand accessibility to a broader audience?
Fard: Public art installations greatly expand accessibility. Unlike traditional galleries or museums, which might have entry fees, limited hours, or physical barriers, public art is open and free for everyone. It brings creativity into shared spaces, inviting people to engage with it as part of their everyday lives.
When you add technology into the mix, that accessibility goes even further. Tech-powered public art can be especially engaging for families, children, seniors, and people who might not usually visit a museum. It also plays a key role in attracting younger generations who may not connect with more traditional forms of art.
Digital art, projection mapping, and interactive installations offer immersive, dynamic experiences that resonate with today’s tech-savvy audience. By incorporating elements like gaming, social media, and real-time interaction, technology-driven public art sparks creativity and curiosity — helping the next generation engage with art in fresh and meaningful ways.
Q: Do public art installations affect cities and businesses located in the vicinity?
Fard: Public art has a strong economic and social impact on cities. Large-scale installations can draw significant crowds, boost tourism, and increase foot traffic for nearby businesses — bringing life and energy to public spaces.
A great example is the 2024 Let’s Glow SF festival, which had a notable economic impact on downtown San Francisco. According to the official impact report from the Downtown SF Partnership, the event brought in:
- Total Economic Impact: $13.2 million
- Attendance: 87,200 people
- Average Spend per Person: $151
These numbers clearly show how public art events like Let’s Glow SF do more than create engaging experiences — they help support local restaurants, shops, hotels, and other small businesses while encouraging both locals and tourists to explore the area.
Q: What are some challenges of using immersive technology in a public setting compared to more traditional exhibitions?
Fard: While immersive technologies have completely changed the way audiences engage with art and storytelling, bringing these experiences into public spaces comes with a unique set of challenges compared to traditional indoor settings.
Scale is a major factor. Unlike indoor spaces with controlled dimensions, outdoor projection mapping often needs to cover vast surfaces — like building facades, streets, or large public areas. This requires careful planning and often involves using multiple projectors to deliver a high-quality, consistent image across such expansive spaces. For large public installations, projectors are also typically placed in irregular and hard-to-reach locations, such as rooftops or other unexpected spots, adding another layer of complexity.
Another challenge is uncontrolled lighting. Outdoor environments are unpredictable — natural light, streetlights, and other surrounding lighting can significantly impact how projections are seen.
Weather is another variable. Outdoor installations expose equipment to rain, wind, temperature swings, and humidity. This means using durable equipment, ensuring proper enclosures, and having backup plans to handle severe weather that could affect performance or safety.
Finally, duration brings its own set of challenges. Many public installations are temporary, set up for a weekend festival or a short event, leaving little time for on-site testing, troubleshooting, or adjustments. This tight timeline also means fast coordination with city agencies, traffic control, and infrastructure teams to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Q: How do Panasonic technologies help meet these challenges?
Fard: Panasonic projection technology is designed to meet the unique challenges of large-scale public art installations, especially when it comes to outdoor projection mapping.
To address the challenge of scale, Panasonic offers high-lumen 4K laser projectors with built-in edge blending capabilities. This makes it easier to seamlessly combine multiple projections into one large, continuous image across big surfaces like building facades or public plazas.
When it comes to uncontrolled lighting, especially in well-lit urban areas, these projectors deliver exceptional brightness and image quality. The visuals stay sharp and vivid, even with streetlights, passing cars, or ambient light all around.
Another important factor is installation and accessibility. Panasonic’s zero-maintenance projectors are engineered for reliability, reducing the need for service visits during events and minimizing disruption.
Additionally, Panasonic’s remote management features allow technical teams to monitor and control all projectors from a single location. This simplifies operations, improves response time for troubleshooting, and enhances overall event efficiency.
These features have been crucial in projects like Cité Mémoire projection mapping in Montreal, where projectors have to withstand tough weather and run flawlessly across multiple historic buildings. Panasonic’s technology has also powered many other public art events, where high performance, low maintenance, and centralized control are essential for success.
Q: Is there anything else we should know about public art and immersive technology?
Fard: At Panasonic, we’re not just here to supply technology — we’re here to help make art more accessible, impactful, and inclusive for everyone.
To support this vision, we’ve launched a dedicated Public Art Program designed to help artists and cultural organizers bring their creative ideas to life. The program offers access to our latest projection and display technologies, along with financial, technical, and marketing support. Whether it’s a large-scale projection mapping or an interactive installation, our goal is to break down barriers and make it easier to create unforgettable public art experiences.
You can learn more about Panasonic's partnership for public art program here.
