What is Public Value?

In early 2004, the OAC introduced the idea of public value to its constituents—a core concept to the OAC and Ohio's arts organizations as we move into a new era for the arts. Public value is difficult to define in concrete terms. The most important thing about public value is that it is something that exists within each community—it is created by the citizens, businesses and organizations of that community. The OAC can't define public value for the entire state or even for a particular community or organization. Our goal is to help our constituents seek out and define the public value within their own work, within their own community, and to, in turn, help reveal that public value.

It's vital that you—as artists and arts organizations—gather evidence of public value. Ask participants how they've changed, whether they're different as a result of engagement with your art and with your organization.

For more information about public value please visit the Convenings Page which contains resources such as links to New Frameworks for Revealing Public Value in the Arts (Christy Farnbauch, Mollie Lakin-Hayes, Jerry Yoshitomi; copyright, March 2004) and remarks made by Wayne Lawson and Jerry Yoshitomi during the March 2004 meetings.

Within this page we hope to offer some concrete examples of public value as revealed by organizations and individuals throughout Ohio. Each month we will feature a new sample of public value stories.

2005 Public Value Stories

January 2005 Public Value Stories

February 2005 Public Value Stories

March 2005 Public Value Stories

April 2005 Public Value Stories

May 2005 Public Value Stories

June 2005 Public Value Stories

July 2005 Public Value Stories

August 2005 Public Value Stories

September 2005 Public Value Stories

October 2005 Public Value Stories

November 2005 Public Value Stories

December 2005 Public Value Stories

If you would like to share your public value story please e-mail Jami Goldstein at jami.goldstein@oac.state.oh.us.