As cities confront growing social polarization and a well documented epidemic of loneliness, we asked ourselves what kind of impact our interactive artworks have on the communities they are embedded in. Conducted in partnership with urban design and planning firm The Lakota Group and strategic consultancy Addendum, this study sets out to answer that question using field data and tailored research frameworks.
The Social Impact Study of Permanent Interactive Public Artworks draws on research conducted on five of Daily tous les jours’ artworks in four cities spanning North America and Europe. We’re sharing these findings and methodologies as a resource for anyone working to build public spaces that strengthen the social fabric of their communities.
Two complementary methodologies were used: an on-site observational approach developed by The Lakota Group, and a comparative remote approach developed by Addendum.
The findings offer research-backed evidence that permanent interactive installations transform public spaces into inclusive, accessible gathering places that foster spontaneous social connection, combat loneliness, and deepen residents’ sense of belonging. We hope it helps cities and institutions make the case for investing in shared, joyful, human experiences, and inspires more practitioners to centre interaction in their work.
