Public Art Fund

Exhibition programpublic Art Fund (paf) engages artists of different backgrounds whose works reflect different points of view and the diversity of new york city. Paf's major initiatives include dynamic exhibitions, installations, and new commissions of artwork by an international roster of artists at all points in their careers from emerging to globally recognized. These projects bring important works of Art outside the traditional confines of museums and galleries, directly to places where new yorkers live and work-including parks, plazas, outdoor advertising venues, and other unexpected sites-where they can be experienced free of charge. (see schedule o)each year, paf works with artists to create site-responsive works for varied locations throughout new york city, and to debut existing sculptures and installations. Commissioning new works involves developing long-term relationships between paf and individual artists; it can take from a few months to several years to develop a project and address the complex technical and logistical considerations involved in presenting new works in the Public realm.paf maintains a collaborative approach to developing projects, wherein individual artists respond to a site in new york city. As a result, paf's installations are closely integrated into their locations and offer opportunities to see these sites in new ways. To meet the organization's goal of reaching the broadest possible audience, projects are located both in highly trafficked locations and spread across new york city's five boroughs. Education and outreach programspaf's outreach programs expand upon its exhibition activities by making them accessible to a wider audience. Paf produces didactic materials in print and digital formats to support each of its projects, and to aid audiences in enjoying and understanding Public Art projects by contemporary artists. Paf's audience is as broad and diverse as the make-up of new york city's residents and visitors, and it is estimated that some 11 million people experienced a paf exhibition or program in the last year.given the unique challenges of mounting an exhibition outdoors, paf also devotes significant resources to engaging with its online audience through both its website and social media platforms. Publicartfund.org features extended information on each exhibition and artist, as well as maps and general information about the shows. Videos for each exhibition illuminate the artists' thought processes and offer opportunities for online viewers to experience the shows from the perspective of an in-person visitor. Public Art Fund continues to present its signature lecture series, Public Art Fund talks, virtually and in person. Organized in collaboration with the cooper union, they connect compelling contemporary artists to a broad Public by establishing a dialogue about artistic practices and Public Art.