WFAA Channel 8 aired a report yesterday questioning the value of public art paid for by the taxpayers of Frisco. The impetus for the story appears to be the installation of “The Pitch,” a $119,000 sculpture at the Dr Pepper Ballpark (which is where the TV station’s Collin County bureau is, so you can see that reporter Steve Stoler didn’t have to stray far for this particular story idea.)
About halfway through the report, Stoler says there’s been no public opposition to the program. (Kinda makes you question why they’re even doing a report.) Then he quotes a member of the Frisco Tea Party saying that the art is beautiful but the costs involved would make some residents say “wow.”
The benefits of public art cited by city leaders are intangible. The head of the city’s art program points to these works making Frisco a more attractive place for people to want to live. Is that true?
