Through Kathleen Coakley's visionary leadership, dedication, perseverance, and hard work, the Committee for Public Art grew from a grass-roots dream to become a highly influential force in the aesthetic development of public space in Cleveland, as well as a key voice in the debate about Cleveland's future as a city space.

The Committee for Public Art, founded in 1985 by a group of artists and civic thinkers, was led and galvanized by Coakley for 15 years. Its work evolved through such projects as the streetscape on West 6th Street, Viaduct Gateway Park on the riverfront, the park at Settler's Landing, and Gateway Plaza. In each of these projects the Committee, under Coakley's leadership, was the catalyst needed to pull together architects, city planners, and artists, persuasively making the case that the aesthetic power of a building project would be enhanced by the addition of public art. Coakley and her committee forged a unique, broad-based community organization to strengthen the identity of Cleveland.

“Arts in Transit” positively affected a wide range of city neighborhoods as they came together to partner with the Regional Transit Authority; Cleveland Public Theatre's marquee and storefront revitalization created a strong artistic image on Detroit Avenue; and the artist-designed playground at Karamu House brought an imaginative and uplifting presence to the Fairfax neighborhood

The most enduring legacy of Coakley's work with the Committee may well be the $1.3 million art project organized for the Louis Stokes Wing of the Cleveland Public Library. Without the authority and credibility of the Committee for Public Art, this building would be without the flourish and panache that thoughtful art imparts. Many Cleveland artists are represented with top-quality work in this space, and more (including a commissioned sculpture by Vietnam Memorial creator Maya Linn) are featured in the Eastman Reading Garden, completed in 1998.

The Committee continues to be a strong advocate for Cleveland architects, designers, and artists and, in many cases, has facilitated the commissions and funding that enabled artists not only to pursue, but actually to thrive, at their craft. It has provided the constant “noise” necessary to insure top priority for the arts. It has also been a strong force to unite neighborhoods around the design of public space.

All Clevelanders and visitors to our city can count themselves the beneficiaries of Coakley's deeply felt passion for the arts.