At CHART 2025, we were pleased to present a panel discussion exploring the role of art in public spaces, focusing on the creation and commissioning process of public art. The panel consists of Danish artist Pernille With Madsen, Michael Thouber, Director of the New Carlsberg Foundation and former Director of Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Diana Velasco, Art Consultant at Kunst på Arbejde and served for five years as Program Lead for the Art in Metro initiative at Metroselskabet, moderated by Milena Høgsberg, former Director and Chief Curator of Wanås Konst.

The conversation examined the practicalities of applying for public art funding, the balance between aesthetics and functionality, and the complex logistics of working with contractors, sub-contractors, and multiple stakeholders. The panellists reflected on the power of public commissions—how they can embody state representation, shape collective identity, and evolve in meaning over time. Through examples such as The Little Mermaid, Poul Gernes’ decoration of Ordrup Gymnasium, Bruce Nauman’s Square Depression, and Svend Wiig Hansen’s Oceania, they discussed how involving users in the creative process fosters a sense of ownership assuring preservation from future generations. 

Click here to access the presentation discussed during the conversation.