The Republic file photo
A view of the Exhibit Columbus installation “Columbus Columbia Columbo Colon” by Dream the Combine in August at Mill Race Park.
The 2021 Exhibit Columbus’ exhibition recorded an estimated attendance of 15,000 to 20,000 amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that included thousands fewer downtown workers to circulate among most of the architectural installations.
The 2019 exhibition attracted an estimated 30,000 people and the novel, inaugural exhibition that generated worldwide publicity attracted an estimated 40,000 people, according to organizers.
Richard McCoy, executive director of the umbrella organization known as Landmark Columbus Foundation, said he believes that fewer workers working downtown in Cummins Inc. and other offices throughout the exhibition had a significant impact.
Exhibit Columbus’ exhibition is a biannual exhibition of design, architecture and community, using temporary public art to celebrate the Modernist legacy of Columbus.
“It just wasn’t quite enough to outpace the idea of thousand of employees not being downtown nearly everyday,” McCoy said. “It’s not that we were exactly anticipating downtown workers all being there (at installations). It’s just that having them there downtown generally creates a buzz and an interest.
“We definitely know that a lot of people did certainly come downtown for Exhibit Columbus. But, during some of that time, some of the restaurants were either closed or had limited hours. So it was tough.”
He acknowledged that the atmosphere was different during the first exhibition in 2017.
“It felt like somebody was always around then,” he said. “Businesses felt a significant impact.
“But the pandemic last year caused a lot of stress and challenges. I think we helped people. But we weren’t able to overcome all that.”
