A couple of interesting stories from the Guardian this week that could be useful in terms of thinking about public and audiences.
A new public sculpture for St Helens is unveiled, Dream by Jaume Plensa http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/22/dream-jaume-plensa-st-helens

I little while ago I posted a link to a Guardian article on how empty shops in the high street were being seen as potential exhibition sites, things seemed to have moved on quickly and as the article states, “Giving artists space on the high street helps demystify the process of creating art, taking it away from the private studio and putting it into the shop front; spaces don't come much more accessible than your former Marks & Spencer or Woolies. How many people outside the art world ever get the chance to see an artist at work?” http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/23/artists-take-over-empty-shops
This looks as if it could be a very good opportunity for someone with a bit of initiative.

Usually public art is dealt with by setting up commissions such as this one http://www.lanarts.com/?q=node/2463 The contact for this commission is Vanessa Scarth the public arts officer for Leeds. It would be interesting to find out if she has any plans or suggestions for how artists could be responding to the ‘space on the high street’ agenda.