If proponents have their way, works of art will become as much a part of Butler County's landscape as silos, subdivisions and shopping centers.

        The Public Art Regional Team represents 12 Butler County organizations active in tourism, the arts and the humanities. Its goal: To share resources, ideas and marketing efforts aimed at benefiting their communities.

        First up is a project to spotlight public art throughout the county, starting with outdoor sculpture. PART began in September by organizing free tours of public art in Hamilton in conjunction with the unveiling of the city's “Hamilton Gateway” sculpture and Gov. Bob Taft's designation of Hamilton as “The City of Sculpture.”

        “There are a number of noteworthy works in Hamilton, not even counting Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, which is private,” said PART member Eugenia Beecher.

        Next, PART plans to develop an educational campaign to increase public appreciation of the treasures in their midst. It is raising $9,000 for this project, which also will produce a pictorial guide to artworks in Hamilton, Middletown, Oxford and other parts of Butler County.

        The group has received a $500 grant from the Cinergy Foundation, plus commitments of similar amounts from Lane Public Library, the Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau, Hamilton Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton.

        “We also have requested larger grants from the Ohio Arts Council and Miller Brewing Co.,” said Paul Thoms, spokesman for the group.

        Promoting public art makes sense for promoting tourism, said Beth Hannon, director of Oxford's Visitors and Convention Bureau. She pointed out that visitors to Oxford usually notice “the big red sculpture” (artist Mark di Suvero's work, “For Kepler”) that stands at the entrance to the Miami University Art Museum. But people may not realize that other outdoor works dot the museum grounds.

        “We're pulling together arts and tourism resources to develop itineraries that will allow tourists to see all our outdoor sculpture,” Ms. Hannon said.

Abortion foes form human chain
Results of our news poll
Two Miami students busted with half-kilo of cocaine
School themes hit home with Tristate voters
What the candidates propose
Special interests dominate Ohio Supreme Court race
Feds: Don't fret over nuke list
Tristate sites linked to nuclear weapons program
West Chester welcomes new link to I-75
SAMPLES: Wal-Mart dwarfs neighborhood
Warren Co. key in 'tricky district'
East Bridge to Cinergy Field closes
United Way at 29 percent of goal
Beasts go home blessed
Blue Ash sponsors photo contest
Dayton airport plan on hold
Groups team up to promote art
Local Digest
Schools plan for expansion