We believe that a successful Art Program captures and responds to the unique attributes and potential of a site. Our work begins with building a clear curatorial strategy that distills and articulates the partner’s key objectives. We integrate in-depth research into the physical attributes, broader history and cultural context of the location. The outcome is a compelling Curatorial Strategic Plan, which may be  offered as a standalone service or as the initiation of a comprehensive Art Program implementation.

We consult with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the Art Program development is informed by a rich understanding of the aspirations and perspectives of those most involved.

• Art Program Strategic Planning
• Public Art Master Planning
• Curatorial Visioning and Facilitation
• Stakeholder Engagement and Goal Setting

• Curatorial Research
• Artist Outreach and Engagement
• Architectural Integration Consulting

Drawing on extensive research and an incomparable national and international network, Public Art Fund’s curatorial team advises on artist selection, often for review by an appointed Selection Committee.

• Selection Process
• Selection Criteria Development
• Artistic Brief Development
• RFP Creation and Review
• Presentation and Selection

ARTIST LIAISON: Serve as the main point of connection with selected artists throughout the proposal development and fabrication process to ensure smooth delivery.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: Support all levels of project design and fabrication, including developing renderings, coordinating fabricator shop visits, and sharing detailed progress reports.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Negotiate contracts, advise on budget and timeline, support with relevant certifications, and work directly with artist studios and production teams.

INSTALLATION AND PROJECT COMPLETION: Develop installation plan, coordinate shipping of artworks, consult on work and site safety plan, coordinate artist, gallery, and stakeholder sign off on the artwork.

• Contract Development & Review
• Architectural Liaison
• Safety & Engineering
• Production and Material Considerations
• Vendor Management

COMMUNICATION AND IN-PROCESS DOCUMENTATION: Maximize engagement and visibility of the art program by formulating and implementing a media outreach strategy, delivering work-in-progress film/photo documentation, identifying opportunities for social media engagement, and creating pathways for community involvement.

INTERPRETATION AND AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Provide art interpretation and education expertise to engage audiences, translate artistic concepts for everyday understanding, create community engagement initiatives, develop digital content and on-site signage, manage installation photography/videography, and provide comprehensive communications support.

• Press and Media Outreach
• Educational Materials
• Signage and Wayfinding
• Project Launch and Promotion
• Digital Resources

We advise on ongoing artwork maintenance planning to ensure longevity and continued impact for future generations.

• Cleaning and Repairs
• Maintenance Manual

Public Art Fund traveling exhibitions open opportunities to present cutting-edge
works by contemporary artists around the globe. Our expertise and know-how can
help lighten the lift of realizing complex public art installations, which can raise
unique challenges.

Public Art Fund regularly collaborates with civic partners, cultural institutions,
museums, parks, and sculpture gardens to bring exceptional, critically-acclaimed public art to communities across the country and around the world. As a leader in the field, we are a trusted resource for curatorial and project management expertise, and have curated myriad exhibitions for the out of doors that have received international acclaim.
Public Art Fund’s artworks and exhibitions are conceived in collaboration with
extraordinary artists and developed by a team of contemporary and public art
professionals who bring curatorial rigor; production, engineering, and installation
expertise; and communications savvy to each project, ensuring that our partners have the necessary tools to successfully mount exceptional, museum-quality public art exhibitions. Our team is available to adapt our exhibitions to different contexts, through the preparation of robust Exhibition Kits. These technical and interpretative materials act as a road map to extending the life of exceptional works of art that make a lasting impact on audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Click to see some of our Traveling Exhibitions.

Public art has the power to spark joy, curiosity, and connection to place for a wide range of people, ensuring that diverse audiences can access new forms of expression, ideas, and perspectives, anytime, for free. Artworks have the potential to stop busy passersby in their tracks and bring about a serendipitous moment of discovery, serenity, and inspiration in the middle of their day. Public art also plays a critical role in building whole and healthy cities and communities. It is an essential part of our urban environment—forging connections, reflecting the conversations of our time, and creating thought-provoking encounters embedded into the fabric of our cities.

Public art commissions have unique considerations, challenges, and opportunities. When executed well, they make an immense impact on community engagement and public space. Public Art Fund serves as a trusted partner to navigate the entire process of a public art project from ideation to close-out, bringing a strong curatorial vision, deep industry knowledge and expertise, and full project management offerings to our Creative Partners. We have a rich history of bringing 500+ ambitious and inspiring public art projects to life over the course of 45+ years, with a deep knowledge of how to communicate with stakeholders and create inspiring results.

We have successfully collaborated with leading cultural institutions, corporations, and civic organizations across the globe, including Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, Moynihan Train Hall, Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Terminal A at Newark International Airport, and Planet Word in Washington D.C. On our roster are a range of groundbreaking projects with renowned global artists including Ai Weiwei, Huma Bhabha, Nicholas Galanin, Carmen Herrera, and Anish Kapoor, as well as architecturally ambitious commissions like Tauba Auerbach’s Flow Separation (2019), Olafur Eliasson’s New York City Waterfalls (2008), Tatzu Nishi’s Discovering Columbus (2012), and the pioneering digital series in Times Square, Messages to the Public (1982–1990).

Public Art Fund partners with cultural institutions, corporations, and civic organizations across the globe. Although partners vary in size and function, they share a vision of developing public art projects that enrich civic space and engage and welcome audiences of diverse backgrounds. Our partners do not necessarily possess any public art experience or expertise, but they are open to the creative possibilities of a space and are invested in inclusive cultural experiences. On a practical level, our partners also initiate the project with enough runway and budget for ambitious and high-quality public artworks.

We serve as a trusted guide, leading the art commissioning process from start to finish, and tailor each project to fit our partners’ unique needs. Throughout the process of creating memorable and engaging public art installations, Public Art Fund is able to serve as a consultant for all major phases of a project, including curatorial vision and strategy; research and development; artist liaison engineering, fabrication and installation; and interpretation and communications. We collaborate closely with partners, contractors, artists, community members, and other stakeholders to deliver projects within an established timeline and budget. Visit our More About Our Services section to learn more.

We guide our partners in determining the best type of work to suit their needs and budgets. We also offer standalone master planning consulting for partners interested in leading their own implementation process.

Architecturally Integrated
– Surfaces: painted or tiled images on a ceiling or wall, such as Laura Owens’ I 🍕 NY
– Water: A fountain or water feature, such as Anish Kapoor: Descension
– Lighting: Skylight or light feature, such as Elmgreen & Dragset: The Hive
– Structure: Suspended/floating structures, like Sarah Sze’s Shorter than the Day

Freestanding Sculptures: sculptures that stand independently in a space, such as Yinka Shonibare MBE: Wind Sculpture (SG) I

Distributed Sculptures: installation composed of multiple components, distributed throughout a space, such as Jeppe Hein’s All Your Wishes.

Immersive/Experiential: public art experience that integrates audience participation/movement, such as Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Speaking Willow

Digital: installations or sculptures that rotate out after a period of time, such as Jacolby Satterwhite’s An Eclectic Dance to the Music of Time.

Performance: A temporary activation of a space, such as Kate Gilmore: Walk the Walk.

Public Art Fund prioritizes placemaking and community impact as well as artistic excellence and curatorial rigor. We bring our values of accessibility and inclusion to all of our ambitious public art projects. Ultimately, our goals are shaped in partnership, and focus on making an inspiring impact in the communities we serve. As a trusted partner, we work to build a comprehensive installation and communications plan to keep all stakeholders informed and engaged. As a skilled project manager, we also take pride in delivering projects on time and on budget.

Public Art Fund’s project management, communications, curatorial, and leadership staff all contribute their expertise to Creative Partnership projects.

There are several options for selecting an artist. We work closely with partners to determine the ideal process for their specific situation and needs. Typically, our expert curatorial team recommends artists in dialogue with a selection committee including the partner’s leadership. We work with partners to develop evaluation systems for proposals that assess an artwork’s strength of concept, artistic merit, relevance, impact, and accessibility to a broad audience.

We are invested in ensuring the longevity of permanent site-specific installations. We share detailed instructions and reports for the maintenance of the work, including cleaning and repairs.