Does Albert Lea underestimate the value of public art and what it can do for a community&8217;s economy and aesthetic value?

Perhaps. The only true outdoor public art the city has are statues of a mermaid, a pioneer and a soldier, plus a monument dedicated to veterans. These are a start, but there could be more.

There are several blank walls downtown that could use murals. The back of the Qwest building. The courthouse side of the Freeborn County Shopper building. The west side of the vacant building next the Sportsman&8217;s Tavern. The back of nearly any downtown building adjacent to parking lots.

Albert Lea has an artistic heritage in an array of arts. Lloyd Herfindahl, Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross are the tip of the iceberg. But the exterior of our city really doesn&8217;t reflect it.

Go to Cresco, Iowa. There are bronze statues of children all over the city.

Go to Ashland, Wis. There are outdoor murals all over the city.

Both places are smaller than Albert Lea and both have that electric draw that comes from public art. And both benefit economically, especially little Ashland. The murals attract motorists off the adjacent highway and into the downtown. They provide a welcoming environment that makes people want to stay and return.

The National Governors Association in 2001 did a study called &8220;The Role of the Arts in Economic Development.&8221; It concluded: &8220;Cultural facilities and events enhance property values, tax resources, and overall profitability for communities &8230; the arts become a direct contributor to urban and rural revitalizations.&8221;

A Michigan study found that for every dollar invested in the arts it returned $10 to in-state spending.

The mural inside the expanded Albert Lea Public Library is a wonderful sign that there are people who support art. The artist, Chandler Anderson, grew up in Albert Lea and has gained regional recognition for his talents.

The city, county and economic development groups and business associations within Albert Lea should join forces and develop an incentive program for building owners. Meanwhile, they should pursue grants available to fund public art.

Art is not merely object for the sake of culture. Think of art as an investment in Albert Lea&8217;s economy, in Albert Lea&8217;s future.

As Urbana, Ill., put it: &8220;The arts mean business.&8221;