Americans for the Arts today honors 49 outstanding public arts projects created in 2016 through the Public Art Network Year in Review program, the only national program that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art. Chosen by a jury from 325 entries representing communities across the country, the roster of winning projects was unveiled at Americans for the Arts’ 2017 Annual Convention in San Francisco. 

 

Three independent public art experts presented their choices for the most exemplary, innovative permanent or temporary public art works created or debuted in 2016. The art works selected for Year in Review can be seen on this page. This is the 16th year that Americans for the Arts has recognized public art works. 

 

“These selected works reflect the incredible diversity of public art projects, including temporary to permanent, sculpture to performance art,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “The innovation of work demonstrated in the Public Art Network Year in Review shows the breadth of talent from artists around the country. I congratulate them and their commissioning groups for these community treasures.” 

 

The presentation of the Public Art Network Year in Review was generously supported by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, sponsor of the 2017 Public Art Preconference: Expanding the Ecosystem. The three public art experts included Sherri Brueggemann, manager of the Public Art Urban Enhancement Program for the City of Albuquerque Cultural Services Department; Kevin B. Chen, artist and curator from Oakland, CA; and artist Alison Saar from Los Angeles, CA. 

 

The complete presentation, which includes photos and descriptions of the 49 works, is available for purchase through Americans for the Arts’ store. 

 

Public Art Resource Center (PARC)

 

At the 2017 Annual Convention, Americans for the Arts also unveiled its new Public Art Resource Center (PARC). Supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, PARC is a first-of-its-kind online portal where users can access resources and tools tailored to the specific needs of a rich array of stakeholders in public art, including artists, public art administrators, private sector partners, fabricators, and community stakeholders, among others. A public art services directory, a public art programs directory, and many other resources are available on PARC, giving the field centralized access to information about current and ongoing issues impacting the public art field. 

 

The Public Art Network is a program of Americans for the Arts, designed to provide services to the diverse field of public art and to develop strategies and tools to improve communities through public art. The network’s constituents are public art professionals, visual artists, design professionals, and communities and organizations planning public art projects and programs. 

 

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City, it has a record of more than 55 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

 

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