Overview
An overview of the approach, outcomes and community feedback through the engagement process used to inform the plan.
Engagement Summary
Public engagement spanned 18 months with an estimated 1,365 individuals engaged.
Community surveys were open from September 2024 to April 2025, generating 2,531 responses from individuals with diverse connections to Chinatown. The results provided broad, preliminary feedback that informed early priorities and themes.
Demographics
| Visitors | 189 |
|---|---|
| Employee or business owner | 38 |
| Resident | 19 |
| Unspecified | 7 |
Visitation Frequency
| Once or so a year | 31 |
|---|---|
| Few times per month | 40 |
| Few times per year | 52 |
| Several times per week | 64 |
| Early themes (top 5) | Count |
|---|---|
| History & culture | 74 |
| Chinese identity & community | 52 |
| Nature & animals | 32 |
| Tradition or modernism | 16 |
| Mythology | 13 |
| Early ideas (top 5) | Count |
|---|---|
| Mural & street art | 20 |
| Sculptures & installations | 15 |
| Architectural art & design elements | 11 |
| Temporary art | 8 |
| Light & projection art | 4 |
Interviews were conducted using a structured engagement approach with guildelines to define interested parties and selection criteria. An open call generated 50 applicants, with 39 interviews proceeding. Four additional interviews were added.
This was a staged engagement process that moved participants from awareness and selection into interviews and focus sessions to gather focused, in-depth feedback.
Categories
| Other | 3 |
|---|---|
| Added | 5 |
| Artists | 15 |
| Public | 22 |
Interviews conducted
Interviews conducted
with language services
There were seven focus sessions and 62 participants, including community groups such as Next Steps and the Young Ambassadors Group. The sessions allowed for voting and discussion on themes & locations.
Each focus session followed a structured, facilitated approach. Sessions started with an introduction and context-setting, a voting exercise to identify top focus areas and location themes, followed by group discussion deep dives.
Focus sessions conducted
Focus session participants
| Session Categories | Count |
|---|---|
| 3x with general public | 22 |
| 3x with artist groups | 33 |
| 1x with Chinatown community group | 7 |
Survey Overview
Community surveys were open from September 2024 to April 2025, generating 2,531 responses from individuals with diverse connections to Chinatown. The results provided broad, preliminary feedback that informed early priorities and themes.
Demographics
| Visitors | 189 |
|---|---|
| Employee or business owner | 38 |
| Resident | 19 |
| Unspecified | 7 |
Visitation Frequency
| Once or so a year | 31 |
|---|---|
| Few times per month | 40 |
| Few times per year | 52 |
| Several times per week | 64 |
Connection to Chinatown
| Unspecified | 2 |
|---|---|
| Resident | 9 |
| Services | 14 |
| Of Chinese heritage | 15 |
| Location & convenience | 16 |
| Visiting or travelling | 20 |
| Volunteer or contributor | 21 |
| Events or social gathering | 26 |
| Community & belonging | 29 |
| Food | 42 |
Survey analysis & outputs
There were initially 268 responses from the surveys. Fifteen were removed from the dataset because they were incomplete OR they were duplicates, leaving 253 responses. Initial analysis was conducted to uncover high-level themes and locations. There were three layers of analysis conducted with the information available:
- Demographic analysis: Examination of who participated in the survey, whose voices were represented and whether there were gaps. This included reviewing respondent characteristics, community affiliation and frequency of engagement with this area. This analysis helped contextualize the feedback, identify any underrepresented groups and assess how perspectives varied across different segments of the community.
- Themes analysis: Identification of recurring ideas, values, priorities and concerns expressed across all survey responses. Open-ended responses were reviewed and coded to surface common patterns related to public art aspirations, cultural identity, visibility, storytelling, inclusion, placemaking and community connection. These themes were then clustered into higher level categories to reveal shared priorities across respondents, as well as points of alignment or tension. This layer of analysis formed the foundation for identifying key focus areas that reflect what the community collectively values.
- Ideas analysis: Examination of specific suggestions, concepts and proposals shared by respondents for public art projects, locations, formats and experiences. This included identifying frequently mentioned sites, preferred types of artistic expression and desired functions of public art (e.g., education, celebration, gathering, wayfinding). Ideas were grouped into broader themes and a vision of the plan as a starting point for interview questions and framework.
Survey findings were used to identify early priorities and recurring themes, which directly informed the focus and structure of interview questions. This ensured interviews built on community feedback, allowing for deeper exploration of key issues while refining the overall engagement framework.
The results are summarized below:
| Early themes (top 5) | Count |
|---|---|
| History & culture | 74 |
| Chinese identity & community | 52 |
| Nature & animals | 32 |
| Tradition or modernism | 16 |
| Mythology | 13 |
| Early ideas (top 5) | Count |
|---|---|
| Mural & street art | 20 |
| Sculptures & installations | 15 |
| Architectural art & design elements | 11 |
| Temporary art | 8 |
| Light & projection art | 4 |
Interview Overview
Interviews were conducted using a structured engagement approach with guidelines to define interested parties and selection criteria. An open call generated 50 applicants, with 39 interviews proceeding. Four additional interviews were added.
Categories
| Other | 3 |
|---|---|
| Added | 5 |
| Artists | 15 |
| Public | 22 |
Interviews conducted
Interviews conducted
with language services
This was a staged engagement process that moved participants from awareness and selection into interviews and focus sessions to gather focused, in-depth feedback.
Awareness
Registration
Selection
Interview
Focus Session
Offboarding
Interview analysis & outputs
Interviews were conducted as a followup to the survey phase to validate emerging themes and explore community perspectives in greater depth. A structured and transparent interview process was designed to support broad participation while ensuring diverse and representative feedback. The approach was guided by three key components:
- Outreach strategy: A multi-channel outreach approach was used to invite participation, including existing mailing lists, community networks and public promotion. All outreach directed interested participants to a centralized online registration portal, helping ensure consistency, accessibility and clear communication throughout the process.
- Open Application: Applications were open to anyone with an interest or connection to Chinatown public art through a defined registration period. Following registration, submissions were reviewed and prioritized to ensure balanced representation across interested party groups, while maintaining transparency that registration did not guarantee participation. Outreach was also conducted in-person, and in Chinese.
- Interview structure: Selected participants took part in structured one-on-one interviews informed by survey findings. Interviews were designed to identify key themes, surface lived experiences and gather qualitative insights that directly informed the refinement of themes, strategies and the overall framework of the Chinatown Public Art Plan.
Below is an overview of the interview structure:
Interview objectives
- Reflect on community identity and cultural
- Understand public art preferences
- Determine locations and accessibility
- Encourage community engagement and public participation
- Enhance the public realm and economic impact
- Promote diversity and representation
Interview outputs were synthesized into preliminary focus areas and location-based themes, highlighting shared priorities and topics requiring deeper discussion. These insights formed the foundation for the focus sessions.
Preliminary focus areas
The following 12 focus areas have been identified & built upon the 43 interviews conducted so far. Participants will be asked to vote on the top 5 as a collective group and to detail out further the objectives, strategies and illustrative examples.
1. Heritage & legacy
Celebrate & honor Chinatown’s heritage through public art
2. Generational connection
Create opportunities for community members from different generations to support learning
3. Living Chinatown narratives
Make local stories visible in everyday spaces
4. Welcoming & inclusive spaces
Ensure public art contributes to feelings of belonging for diverse communities
5. Reciprocity & care
Continue to bring art into the community to encourage gathering, respect & exchange of support
6. Community celebrations & connections
Reinforce Chinatown as a cultural hub through art in festivals
7. Public & private partnerships
Find opportunities for collaboration with business & property owners
8. Cultural destination
Support Chinatown’s position as a cultural destination & vibrant hub for tourism
9. Everyday encounters
Encourage artful living by embedding artwork throughout the neighborhood
10. Contemporary art forms
Reimagine Chinatown’s stories through contemporary tools & techniques
11. Cross-cultural exchange & collaboration
Position Chinatown as a hub for dialogue and creative exchange
12. Youth empowerment
Enable & empower young leaders to shape Chinatown’s evolving future
Preliminary location themes
The following 6 these represent the most common identified areas for public art
1. Streetscapes & sidewalks
Everyday pedestrian areas (sidewalks, crosswalks, alleys) where art can animate movement and create daily encounters.
2. Parks & greenspaces
Small plazas, gardens, and open spaces identified as places for gathering and cultural expression.
3. Community & cultural facilities
Community halls, seniors’ centers, and cultural hubs where intergenerational and cultural exchange can be supported through art.
4. Markets & commercial corridors
Streets with food markets, retail, and restaurants—lively anchors where art can strengthen identity and attract visitors.
5. Waterfront & natural edges
River edges, bridges, or transitional areas linking Chinatown to the broader city, offering opportunities for symbolic and connective artworks.
6. Transit & mobility spaces
Bus stops, pathways, and parking areas where public art can enhance accessibility and wayfinding while animating routine travel.
Focus Sessions Overview
There were seven focus sessions and 62 participants, including community groups such as Chinatown Working Group and the Young Ambassadors Group. The sessions allowed for voting and discussion on themes & locations.
Focus sessions conducted
Focus session participants
| Session Categories | Count |
|---|---|
| 3x with general public | 22 |
| 3x with artist groups | 33 |
| 1x with Chinatown community group | 7 |
Each focus session followed a structured, facilitated approach. Sessions started with an introduction and context-setting, a voting exercise to identify top focus areas and location themes, followed by group discussion deep dives.
Introduction & context setting
Focus theme voting & deep dive
Location theme voting & rationale
Focus Session Analysis and Outputs
Focus sessions were designed to validate interview findings, prioritize community-identified focus areas and generate detailed qualitative insight to inform the Chinatown Public Art Plan. The sessions combined structured facilitation with interactive exercises to support inclusive participation
- Purpose and objective: The primary purpose of the focus sessions was to test and refine preliminary focus areas and location themes that emerged from interviews. Participants were asked to collectively identify priorities, clarify intent and explore how public art could respond to community values, lived experiences and spatial opportunities.
- Facilitation: Each session followed a consistent facilitation structure, beginning with context-setting and an overview of the preliminary focus areas. Participants engaged in guided activities, including small-group discussions and rotating poster exercises, to ensure all voices were heard and that feedback was gathered across multiple themes. Six sessions were conducted in-person and the last one virtually.
- Voting & insights: Participants voted on the focus areas they felt were most impactful, resulting in a short list of priority themes for deeper discussion. Qualitative feedback, including likes, wishes, questions and concerns, were captured for each priority area and synthesized across sessions. These insights informed the refinement of thematic focus areas and the identification of early location-based themes, forming a strong foundation for the plan’s strategic directions.
Voting results are summarized below:
Activity A: participants were asked to vote on the top 5 preliminary focus areas. Results are below
Focus area voting
| Session | Cultural identity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage & origin | Connection with community | Local histories & traditions | |
| 1. Public group A | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 2. Artist group A | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| 3. Artist group B | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 4. Public group B | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| 5. Young Ambassadors | 7 | 11 | 7 |
| 6. Next Steps | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 7. Public group C Virtual | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Total votes | 29 | 31 | 29 |
| Total placement | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Top 5 | #3 | ||
| Session | Community belonging | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| People & relationships across culture | Belonging & home | Community identity & shared memories | |
| 1. Public group A | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2. Artist group A | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 3. Artist group B | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 4. Public group B | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 5. Young Ambassadors | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 6. Next Steps | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 7. Public group C Virtual | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total votes | 25 | 12 | 22 |
| Total placement | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Top 5 | #4 | ||
| Session | Economic vibrancy | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active & vibrant placemaking | Diverse businesses | Creative economies | |
| 1. Public group A | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2. Artist group A | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 3. Artist group B | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 4. Public group B | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 5. Young Ambassadors | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| 6. Next Steps | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7. Public group C Virtual | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total votes | 24 | 34 | 14 |
| Total placement | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Top 5 | ? | #1 | |
| Session | Innovation & evolution | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary art forms | Technology adaptation & future thinking | New perspectives | |
| 1. Public group A | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2. Artist group A | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 3. Artist group B | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 4. Public group B | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 5. Young Ambassadors | 8 | 7 | 10 |
| 6. Next Steps | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 7. Public group C Virtual | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total votes | 27 | 21 | 24 |
| Total placement | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| Top 5 | #5 | #2 | |
Location theme voting
| Group | Streetscapes & sidewalks | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 1 | 11122 |
| 2 | Artist group A | 2 | 11233 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 3 | 12223 |
| 4 | Public group B | 1 | 11122233 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 1 | 11111111111222333 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 1 | 111123 |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 1 | 4 |
| Total votes | 53 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 24 | ||
| Placement | #1 | ||
| Group | Parks & greenspaces | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 2 | 123333 |
| 2 | Artist group A | 5 | 123 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 1 | 111123 |
| 4 | Public group B | 3 | 1122222 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 3 | 111223 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 4 | 2222 |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 1 | 4 |
| Total votes | 36 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 11 | ||
| Placement | #2 | ||
| Group | Community & cultural facilities | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 5 | 223 |
| 2 | Artist group A | 4 | 1223 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 6 | 3 |
| 4 | Public group B | 5 | 133 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 6 | 233333 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 5 | 23333 |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 1 | 4 |
| Total votes | 26 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 2 | ||
| Placement | #5 | ||
| Group | Markets & commercial corridors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 3 | 1122 |
| 2 | Artist group A | 1 | 11223 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 4 | 333 |
| 4 | Public group B | 6 | 23 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 2 | 111122222333 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 2 | 113 |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 4 | 3 |
| Total votes | 32 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 10 | ||
| Placement | #3 | ||
| Group | Waterfront & natural edges | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 4 | 11333 |
| 2 | Artist group A | 6 | 33 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 2 | 11223 |
| 4 | Public group B | 2 | 111233 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 4 | 2222233333 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 3 | 123 |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 4 | 3 |
| Total votes | 34 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 8 | ||
| Placement | #4 | ||
| Group | Transit & mobility spaces | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Votes | ||
| 1 | Public group A | 6 | |
| 2 | Artist group A | 3 | 11233 |
| 3 | Artist group B | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | Public group B | 4 | 1333 |
| 5 | Young Ambassadors | 5 | 2233 |
| 6 | Next Steps | 6 | |
| 7 | Public group C (virtual) | 6 | |
| Total votes | 14 | ||
| Total #1 votes | 3 | ||
| Placement | #6 | ||
Across all focus sessions, participant voting and discussion revealed strong alignment around a set of shared priorities that reflect what the community most wants public art to achieve in Chinatown. While all preliminary focus areas were valued, five themes consistently emerged as the highest priorities, shaping the collective direction of the plan:
- Heritage and legacy
- Generational connection
- Living Chinatown narratives
- Cultural destination
- Youth empowerment