City Removing Christopher Columbus Statue Today
The City of
Columbus is removing the Christopher Columbus statue on the Broad Street side
of City Hall today. With the guidance of the Columbus Art Commission, McKay
Lodge Art Conservation Laboratory and Smoot Construction, it will be placed in
safekeeping at a secure city facility.
Mayor Andrew
J. Ginther asked the Columbus Art Commission to launch a community-driven
process that embraces diversity. This participatory process will help determine
how to best replace the statue and evaluate the diversity and inclusiveness of
all public art, including other monuments, statues and art installations, and
the artists, identifying gaps. The Commission has also been asked to reimagine
other symbols associated with the City, including the seal and flag, and to make
recommendations for change.
The Columbus
Art Commission was established by Columbus City Code and is responsible for the
approval of all art purchased, commissioned or accepted as a gift by the City,
as well as all art proposed for placement anywhere within the public
right-of-way or on property owned or leased by the City. The Christopher
Columbus statue was a gift from the people of Genoa, Italy, in 1955.