2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans for the Arts’ Public Art Network (PAN) Year in Review annual recognition program. The PAN Year in Review began in 2000 as an opportunity for public art practitioners and artists to showcase their public art projects and has become a national recognition program that highlights the most compelling public artworks across the United States and beyond. This year Americans for the Arts, in collaboration with the Public Art Network Advisory Council, will both celebrate the work of the public art field through a review of the over 800 PAN Year in Review projects, and take a moment to pause and reflect on the PAN Year in Review program in order to relaunch a more equitable program in 2021.

Over its lifetime, the PAN Year in Review program has been updated to clarify eligibility requirements, juror roles, and the application selection process. However, since its inception the program has not had an in-depth review of its processes or impact. As Americans for the Arts aims to support a more culturally equitable field by delivering programming that is built on inclusive practices, the PAN Year in Review program and application process will be on hold for 2020. As the program is reviewed, opportunities will be implemented to gather field insight for the revision and release of a more equitable recognition program in early 2021. The first opportunity for the field to provide insight will take place in March 2020. Details on how to participate will be announced in late February.

Each year, two or more public art professionals have served as jurors to review hundreds of applications and select up to 50 projects highlighting the most compelling public artworks. As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary, field experts will present on trends and issues gathered from a review of the projects selected over the past two decades at the new Public Art & Civic Design Conference taking place in Washington, D.C., from June 26–28, 2020. Register now to join the conference and celebration!

The relaunch in 2021 will include opportunities for projects that would have been submitted in 2020.

To learn more about the PAN Year in Review and access the online database of past projects, click here.

For questions about the celebration and the review of the program, please contact Patricia Walsh at [email protected].

Photo: “Pathways to Freedom” by Julia Vogl, Boston, MA, 2019 Public Art Network Year in Review.