About the Project
The Keys to Frederick project is a project sponsored by the Frederick Arts Council, the umbrella arts organization for Frederick County. The public art project is a culmination event in celebration of the organization's 30 years of promoting, supporting, and advocating the arts. That is why thirty keys were selected for public display.
The keys were officially unveiled as part of Art in the Park night at Harry Grove Stadium on Friday, August 17th. After taken off the streets, they will be auctioned off at a Key Auction Gala on Thursday, November 1st. The proceeds of the auction will benefit several arts organizations in Frederick County.
Thirty artists were selected to participate in this unique public art project based on their designs which range from the abstract and whimsical to historic and participative. The majority of the artists hail from Frederick County, Maryland. However, artists also come from Washington County, Allegheny County, and Howard County in Maryland as well as Southeast Pennsylvania. Keys were selected as the sculpture in recognition of the city's ties to Francis Scott Key, the author of the Star Spangled Banner. The Star Spangled Banner was written on September 14, 1814.
Several events and special activities are planned in conjunction with the Keys to Frederick Project, including an artist meet and greet, walking tours led by a Francis Scott Key impersonator, a scavenger hunt, and a photography contest. Kids can also color their own key and members of the general public are encouraged to vote for their favorite key during a street festival in October.
There are many benefits this project will provide the community. It:
- will celebrate the positive aspects of Frederick, including the important role arts play in the economic vitality of the City as well as our history; and
- will build a sense of community pride and spirit, thereby contributing to the quality of life and unique character of our beautiful City; and
- will unite and engage a diverse sector of the City's population, including the artistic community, local schools, area businesses, and others; and
- has substantial opportunity to increase tourism to the City and attract many visitors during its tenure; and
- will potentially garner regional and/or national positive media for the City.
Economic and Tourism Impact of Similar Public Art Projects
Cincinnati Pig Gig: According to a University of Cincinnati study of the event?s economic impact, approximately 968,000 people attended Greater Cincinnati?s Big Pig Gig in 2001, 462,000 of whom were out-of-towners. These tourists spent $59.4 million in area stores, restaurants, hotels, and gas stations- not a bad return on the $1.2 million direct cost of the event. The study concluded that out-of-towners stayed an average of three days in Cincinnati, and spent $130 per person.
Chicago Cows on Parade: This world-renowned temporary public art installation brought an estimated additional 2 million visitors to the city. During the three-month exhibit, these tourists spent approximately $500 million on hotels, food, and sightseeing. One store in Chicago reported a $40,000 profit over its weekly projections due to thousands of additional customers generated by the exhibit. Other retail shops, restaurants, and hotels reported a 20% increase in sales.
New York City's Cow Parade: The benefits to New York of the Cow Parade included a boost in tourism by 3-4 million visitors, generating an additional $1 billion in revenues for local businesses. New York raised $1,351,000 at the Charity Auction to support the work of dozens of New York-based charities. The average cow sold for $18,250; the largest bid was for $60,000.