Public art in built environment: paintings in urban space of jinja city in context

Abstract

The role that public art can have in urban settings can be seen in Jinja City's Public art in built environment focusing on paintings in Urban Space. The study's purpose was to provide evidence of how Jinja City's social and economic development has been influenced by the presence of paintings in public areas. The study was conducted under three objectives; (1) to establish the nature of paintings in the public spaces for social- economic development of Jinja City. (2) To analyze the role of the selected paintings in public space for social-economic development of Jinja City. (3) To document the role of the selected paintings executed in the public space for social economic development of Jinja City. The study was descriptive in nature and mainly depended on purposive sampling. 37 respondents were purposefully chosen, including both artists and non-artists who were knowledgeable about the paintings. The study largely employed the qualitative research through qualitative data collection. The methods used in data collection include; direct visual observation, interview, photography, library research and documentation. Literary sources, such as books, newspapers, magazines, catalogues, and other printed materials, were used for the collection of secondary data. Findings point out that although paintings in the Urban Space of Jinja City are realistic, abstract and semi abstract, the message carried on to the intended audience was not clearly trangulated. The research's conclusions will assist academic researchers, working artists, cultural heritages, and other stakeholders in understanding the importance of assisting community members in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to balance the social, economic, and ecological aspects of sustainable development.