Speaking Engagements
Patricia Walsh: Public Art Expert & Cultural Leadership Speaker
With over two decades of transformative experience in public art and cultural development, Patricia Walsh illuminates the hidden pathways of how art shapes our shared spaces. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, she brings authenticity, expertise, and practical insights to audiences across the globe.
Patricia's unique perspective comes from her multifaceted career: managing municipal public art collections, leading a national network of public art administrators for nearly a decade, and consulting with communities worldwide. She specializes in demystifying the $4.4 billion public art industry, making complex processes accessible and actionable for diverse audiences.
Speaking Topics Include:
Building Curiosity: Understanding How Art Enters our Shared Spaces
Next Generation Leadership in Cultural Development
Navigating Career Paths in Arts Administration and Public Art
Creating Transparent and Equitable Public Art Systems
Building Cultural Capital: Public Art as an Economic and Tourism Driver
Notable Speaking Engagements:
American Planning Association National Conference
College Art Association Conference
Seoul Is Museum International Conference
Art Symposium in Public Spaces, Guatemala City
National Public Art Pre-Conference Series (Lead Organizer & MC, 2014-2020)
Patricia crafts each presentation to resonate with your specific audience, whether they're emerging artists, civic leaders, cultural administrators, or community advocates. Her talks blend compelling storytelling with actionable insights, empowering audiences to actively shape their cultural landscapes.
Perfect For:
Arts Organizations and Cultural Institutions
Urban Planning and Design Conferences
University Programs in Arts Administration
Community Development Organizations
Professional Development Workshops
Cultural Leadership Forums
From keynotes to workshops, Patricia brings both vision and practical knowledge to every engagement, helping audiences understand and participate in the vital process of bringing art into public spaces.
Past Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “Eight Reasons for Businesses to Support the Arts”, 2024 Creative Impact Conference, Hudson Valley, New York
Guest, “Public Art for Wellbeing”, March 2024 Brave New Girls podcast
Speaker/Organizer, "Equitable Creative Economy", 2023 National Planning Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Featured Speaker, "How Public Art Shows Up in Communities", 2021 Virtual Art Symposium in Public Spaces, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Panelist, "Public Art's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic", 2020 Virtual Conversation, Chicago Loop Alliance, Illinois
Speaker/Researcher, “What Can We Learn From 1767 Public Art Projects?”, 2020 Webinar, Americans for the Arts
MC/Organizer, 2019 Americans for the Arts Public Art Pre-Conference, Twin Cities, Minnesota
Panelist, "Creative Placemaking Strategies", 2018 National Planning Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana
Speaker/Panelist, “Intertwining Practices of Public Art and Arts Education”, 2018 College Art Association, Los Angeles, California
Workshop, “Overview of Public Art for Artists”, 2017 ELEVATE, Atlanta, Georgia
Featured Speaker and Moderator, 2017 Educational Symposium on Public Art, Augusta, Georgia
Speaker, "The Role of Public Art in the United States", 2016 Seoul Is Museum International Conference, Seoul, South Korea
MC/Organizer, 2015 Americans for the Arts Public Art Pre-Conference, Chicago, Illinois
Keynote Speaker, “Trends in the Public Art Field”, 2014 Florida Association of Public Art Professionals Conference, Key West, Florida
Speaking Requests
Inquiry about a booking Patricia for your next event, conference, or workshop. Please complete the form with the type of request for speaking, the date, location, audience, budget, and any other pertinent information.