According to its mission, the organization believes these striking works of public art have the power to “transform public spaces and individual lives.”“We always say that art ignites change,” says Jane Golden, the organization’s executive director. A 2018 London-based survey found that 84% of respondents believed participating in public art projects benefited their well-being. It ’s no surprise that art-focused bus and walking tours have grown popular in dozens of cities in recent years, from London, England, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Austin, Texas, where the city-led Art in Public Places program has been funding public art for more than 30 years. The same is true of dozens of other public art organizations, including the Bay Area Mural Program in Oakland, California; the Portland Street Art Alliance in Portland, Oregon; and the Chicago Public Art Group in Chicago, Illinois. The message it sends is clear: Public art is good for us and our cities.