Early-stage artist involvement in urban renewal: potentials and limitations from the Open Field Agency, Sydney

This paper explores how involving artists early in urban renewal projects can make the process more inclusive and community-focused. By engaging artists in the conceptual design of the Danks Street South Precinct’s public domain, the City of Sydney (CoS) aimed to reframe public art as a tool for inclusive decision-making. The study drew on official documents analysis and semi-structured interviews with the artists and the project manager, who is a government official. The project illustrates the potential of public art to address urban tensions and support more inclusive, collaborative planning. At the same time, it reveals limitations – particularly how artist-led ideas can become diluted during developer-driven implementation. The paper contributes to broader discussions on collaborative planning, and socially engaged art emphasizing the value of institutional support for more inclusive authorship. It suggests that integrating artistic practices can be a strategic option in urban renewal offering a way to better align spatial development with social values.