Autocratic Yawn: The Manipulation of Public Perception

Public art in Western Australia has been boosted by the Australian Federal Government’s Percent for Art Scheme, which requires one percent of all new construction budgets for new development over $2 million to be spent on artwork. The scheme is a State Government initiative that started in 1989. It is managed by the Department of Finance in partnership with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries ˗ which is responsible for arts policy in the State. Alexander Hayes provides examples of contemporary works and accounts from professionals in the Arts sector as to what public art work means for the general public. An analysis of these perceptions are comparatively examined, drawing upon the understandings of what constitutes public art from literature written by leaders in this field of endeavour.