I've been thinking about how public art projects are funded and approved in my city, and it seems like the conversations always revolve around aesthetics or cost. But what really matters to me is whether a mural or sculpture actually changes how people use and feel about a space. For example, a neglected underpass near my office got a colorful installation last year, and now I see people stopping to take photos and even lingering there. Should we evaluate public art primarily by its ability to improve community well-being, rather than by traditional artistic standards?