Metro Transit staff presented an annual update on the council’s public art in transit program on March 26, describing conservation work, anti‑graffiti treatments, community partnerships, and new commissions scheduled for 2025.

Mark Granlund, public art administrator, told the full council the program manages 82 permanent public artworks composed of roughly 420 individual pieces and runs five program strands: permanent collection maintenance, facilities maintenance support, community opportunities, new/upgraded facilities and an interpretive program of tours and outreach.

Why it matters: public art investments were presented as both cultural improvements and practical tools that reduce vandalism and lower maintenance costs. Staff argued the program contributes to rider and employee experience while supporting local artists, including MCUB and small businesses.

What the presentation covered

Conservation and anti‑graffiti measures: Granlund described anti‑graffiti coatings, a conservation technician position that oversees maintenance, and a stainless‑steel panel restoration process (panels removed, treated, and reinstalled). He said the program had about 12 graffiti incidents on artwork in the last year versus about 20 the prior year and credited coatings and maintenance training for the decline.

Durability and design innovations: Metro Transit is piloting polycarbonate panels with embedded artwork (to reduce broken glass), anti‑graffiti wallpaper in elevator lobbies and mural programs at site types prone to vandalism. Bus shelter clings (50/50 perforated material) were cited as reducing graffiti and glass vandalism in shelters by roughly 60% and 50% respectively in pilot locations.

Community partnerships and artist roster: The program worked with local partners including the Walker Art Center and Juxtaposition Arts on shelter clings for North Minneapolis D Line shelters and has started an artist roster of about 25 local artists to streamline small projects. Granlund said the roster has been used for poster and illustration projects and that the program will share the roster with local partners and suburban providers interested in public art.

Upcoming commissions and relocations: For 2025 staff highlighted new murals and mosaics at the North Loop garage, interior ceiling work in the break room, and relocation of older, hard‑to‑maintain interactive pieces (for example, the Small Kindnesses Weather Permitting audio/interactive boxes) to more protected, accessible locations. Granlund said selection panels and RFQ/RFP processes were used to commission the new pieces.

Council response and follow-up

Multiple councilmembers praised the program and asked about community partnerships, school involvement and how to access the roster for local projects. Granlund and staff said the process for wraps and shelter clings is coordinated through Creative Services (Maria Cohn for bus wraps) and that the public can propose projects or use default designs for utility boxes. Staff said they will continue public art tours, expand interpretive programming and coordinate outreach as installations move from concept to completed work.

The presentation concluded with staff noting the public art program also supports procurement goals (MCUB and local business participation) and that regular maintenance and conservation are core program functions.