ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC ART
Programs
Public Art Initiatives
ACQUIRE AND COMMISSION PUBLIC ART: THE ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC ART (APA) IS DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUES OF OUR TIME, WHILE REDEFINING PUBLIC SPACE AND ENCOURAGING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND INTERACTION. A RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC ART NETWORK AWARD FROM THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS (AFTA), THE APA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS, EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT, AND LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC ART.FY 2024 BEGAN WITH THE FINAL WEEKS OF MAREN HASSINGER'S "STEEL BODIES" TEMPORARY EXHIBITION AT THE ELLEN PHILLIPS SAMUEL MEMORIAL, ON LOAN FROM SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK -- BRINGING A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO THE MEMORIAL. NEW LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS INCLUDED THE ARRIVAL OF SEASONED PUBLIC ART AND CULTURE WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHARLOTTE COHEN AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEE PRESIDENT JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IN CY 2024 BY A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE EXHIBITION "PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA: A LEGACY SHAPED BY WOMEN AND XENOBIA BAILEY'S "THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE" STREET BANNER PROJECT AS PART OF THE SOCIETY'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. FY 2024 ALSO REALIZED THE PREMIER OF "ART ON THE PARKWAY" FEATURING AN OPEN CALL, JURY ARTIST SELECTION, AND INSTALLATION OF RACHEL HSU'S "THE WEIGHT OF OUR LIVING" IN MAJA PARK. DEVELOPMENTS ADVANCED TO BRING PAUL RAMIREZ JONAS' "LET FREEDOM RING" TO PHILADELPHIA, AND TO UNDERTAKE A STRATEGIC PLAN AND FUTURE DIRECTION FOR THE APA.OVER THE COURSE OF FY 2024, THE APA'S OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM CELEBRATED FORTY-TWO YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION, FOLLOWING ITS RECEIPT OF A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE THE PRIOR YEAR. INTERPRETIVE EFFORTS INCLUDED A PUBLIC POETRY WORKSHOP, ARTIST TALKS FOR "THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE" BANNER PROJECT AND "THE WEIGHT OF OUR LIVING" INSTALLATION, AN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATORY PUBLIC ART TRIVIA PROGRAM, AND SELF-GUIDED AND IN-PERSON TOURS OF PUBLIC ART WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE CITY-WIDE (RE)FOCUS FESTIVAL."STEEL BODIES" EXHIBITION: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK IN NY, THE APA BROUGHT ARTIST MAREN HASSINGER'S "STEEL BODIES" EXHIBITION TO THE ELLEN PHILLIPS SAMUEL MEMORIAL FOR A TEMPORARY INSTALLATION FROM JUNE 12 - NOVEMBER 12, 2023. PART OF AN ONGOING EFFORT TO REIMAGINE THE SITE, HASSINGER'S EVOCATIVE SCULPTURES OFFERED A RESTORATIVE AND INSPIRING MESSAGE OF SHARED AND ACTIVE HUMANITY. IT WAS THE FIRST CONTEMPORARY PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION AT THE MEMORIAL AND THE ARTIST'S FIRST OUTDOOR SCULPTURE EXHIBITION IN PHILADELPHIA. THE OPENING RECEPTION WAS COMBINED WITH APA'S 151ST ANNUAL MEETING, AND INCLUDED REMARKS BY THE ARTIST. "PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA: A LEGACY SHAPED BY WOMEN" EXHIBITION: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA (HSP), AS PART OF ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024, APA PRESENTED "PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA: A LEGACY SHAPED BY WOMEN." THIS EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTED THE HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE FIELD AS ARTISTS, BENEFACTORS, AND LEADERS. THIS WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC DISPLAY OF APA'S ARCHIVAL MATERIALS, AND EXPLORED BOTH THE COLLECTION AT HSP (APA RECORDS 1872 - 1972) AND CONTEMPORARY MATERIALS HOUSED AT APA. THE EXHIBITION WAS ALSO INCLUDED AS PART OF "(RE)FOCUS," A CITYWIDE EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN 2024 THAT CELEBRATED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL 1974 EXHIBIT "FOCUS," ONE OF THE FIRST NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN."THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE" BANNERS: IN ANOTHER COLLABORATION WITH THE HSP, THE APA COMMISSIONED ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY TO CREATE "THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE," A SERIES OF STREET POLE BANNERS INSTALLED IN THE 13TH AND LOCUST STREET AREA DURING SPRING AND FALL 2024. INSPIRED BY HSP'S COLLECTION OF PHILADELPHIA'S FREE BLACK COMMUNITY IN THE 1700S AND 1800S, THE ARTIST INCLUDED A DIGITALLY REPRODUCED DAGUERREOTYPE OF A BLACK MAN COLLAGED WITH HER SIGNATURE CROCHETED GOLD EMBELLISHMENTS IN THE DESIGN. BAILEY IS A FIBER-ARTIST, CROCHETER, DESIGNER, RESEARCHER, AND CULTURAL ACTIVIST. THE BANNERS WERE BAILEY'S FIRST PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION IN PHILADELPHIA."ART ON THE PARKWAY": 2024 WAS THE INAUGURAL YEAR FOR "ART ON THE PARKWAY," A PUBLIC ART COMPETITION CO-ORGANIZED BY THE APA AND THE PARKWAY COUNCIL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILADELPHIA PARKS AND RECREATION (PPR). THE OPEN CALL INVITED PHILADELPHIA-AREA ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND OTHER CREATIVES TO PROPOSE A TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION IN MAJA PARK ON THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY AS PART OF THE OVAL ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL. "THE WEIGHT OF OUR LIVING" BY PHILADELPHIA-BASED ARTIST RACHEL HSU WAS SELECTED BY A JURY OF FOUR LOCAL PUBLIC ART RELATED PROFESSIONALS, AND WAS ON VIEW FROM AUGUST 1 - OCTOBER 27, 2024. INSPIRED BY REFLEXOLOGY FOOTPATHS IN TAIWAN'S PUBLIC PARKS, THIS ARTISTS' FIRST-TIME PUBLIC ARTWORK INVITED VISITORS TO WALK BAREFOOT ON ROUNDED STONES EMBEDDED IN A CIRCULAR PLATFORM. AN ADJACENT SEATING ELEMENT CREATED A SPACE FOR REPOSE AND REFLECTION. "LET FREEDOM RING": PLANNING EFFORTS BEGAN TO BRING PAUL RAMERIZ JONAS' SCULPTURE "LET FREEDOM RING" TO PHILADELPHIA IN 2026, INITIALLY EXHIBITED BY MONUMENT LAB ON THE NATIONAL MALL IN WASHINGTON, DC IN 2023. THE APA MET WITH THE ARTIST AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REGARDING POTENTIAL SITES. THE APA RECEIVED PEW CENTER FOR THE ARTS & HERITAGE AND PHILADELPHIA FUNDER COLLABORATIVE FOR THE SEMI-QUINCENTENNIAL GRANT AWARDS FOR THE 250TH PROJECT, AND DEVELOPED PLANS WITH THE ARTIST AND FABRICATOR/INSTALLER FOR THE 2026 PHILADELPHIA INSTALLATION. STRATEGIC PLAN: WITH THE TRANSITION TO NEW LEADERSHIP AND FUNDING FROM THE WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION, THE APA BEGAN A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS IN FY 2024. DRAGONFLY PARTNERS WAS ENGAGED TO LEAD THE PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN WITH DISCOVERY AND LEARNING (FIELD ANALYSIS, DOCUMENT REVIEW, INTERVIEWS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS) AND MEETINGS WITH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF BOARD AND STAFF.DIGITAL ARCHIVES: THE APA LAUNCHED THE APA DIGITAL ARCHIVE (SEARCHABLE HISTORIC MINUTE BOOKS, ANNUAL REPORTS, AND IMAGES DATING FROM 1871 - 1981) THE PRIOR YEAR AND CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN IT THROUGH FY 2024. THE DIGITIZED MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE THROUGH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED PORTAL ON APA'S WEBSITE. AS THE ONLY SOURCE OF ITS KIND, THE APA'S HISTORIC MINUTE BOOK AND ANNUAL REPORT COLLECTION IS THE FIRST DIGITAL ARCHIVE TO OFFER A SEARCHABLE HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE PUBLIC ART FIELD IN THE U.S. THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC MINUTE BOOKS ARE PART OF THE APA'S ARCHIVES AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.NEW LEADERSHIP: IN AUGUST 2023 VETERAN PUBLIC ART PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL LEADER CHARLOTTE COHEN BEGAN HER TENURE AS THE APA'S SECOND OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOLLOWING THE RETIREMENT OF PENNY BACH AFTER 40+ YEARS IN THAT POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, IN DECEMBER 2023 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE PRESIDENCY TRANSITIONED FROM BARBARA ARONSON (WHO SERVED TEN YEARS) TO HER SUCCESSOR JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesNov 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$280KPublic Art Preservation
PRESERVE PUBLIC ART: THE APA'S COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AGENDA FOR 2024 CELEBRATED FORTY-TWO YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION, AND INCLUDED OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION, SPECIAL CONSERVATION TREATMENTS, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, DONATIONS AND DEACCESSIONS, AND THE DIGITIZATION OF APA'S HISTORIC ARCHIVES.OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION: THE APA'S ANNUAL OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CONSERVATION MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IN THE NATION. DURING FY 2024 OVER THIRTY BRONZE, METAL, STONE, MOSAIC, AND WOOD SCULPTURES OF HISTORIC AND ARTISTIC SIGNIFICANCE RECEIVED TREATMENT. THE SCULPTURES WERE INSPECTED, CLEANED, AND STABILIZED TO PROTECT THEM FROM FURTHER DETERIORATION. THE APA'S PARTNERS IN THIS WORK INCLUDE THE FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY, CITY OF PHILADELPHIA'S PUBLIC ART OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA PARKS & RECREATION, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND NUMEROUS CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS. THE YEAR PRIOR THE APA RECEIVED THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL STEWARDSHIP OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA PRESERVATION ALLIANCE.SPECIAL CONSERVATION TREATMENTS: AS PART OF OUR STEWARDSHIP AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE EFFORTS, EMERGENCIES (INCLUDING STORM DAMAGE, VANDALISM, AND GRAFFITI REMOVAL) WERE ALSO ADDRESSED. ADDITIONAL TREATMENT WORK IN 2024 INCLUDED RESUMING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR JO DAVIDSON'S "WALT WHITMAN" (1939, CAST 1957), REPAIRS AND SPECIAL SURFACE TREATMENT OF DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH AND EDWARD C. POTTER'S "GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT" (1897), JACQUES LIPCHITZ'S "SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE" (1950-60), AND ROBERT MORRIS' "THE WEDGES" (1970). IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY'S PUBLIC ART OFFICE AND THE MANN CENTER, THE APA CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION TREATMENT OF DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH'S "LAW, PROSPERITY AND POWER" LOCATED AT THE MANN CENTER.LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION: THE APA OVERSEES ONGOING LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AT THE "ELLEN PHILLIPS SAMUEL MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN" IN FAIRMOUNT PARK. DONATIONS & DEACCESSIONS: IN 2024 ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR A NUMBER OF APA OWNED ARTWORKS TO BE RELOCATED TO OFF-SITE STORAGE FROM ANOTHER FACILITY THAT CEASED OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED THE DONATION AND DEACCESSION OF 313 C.15TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY FRENCH FACADE STONES FROM APA'S COLLECTION. OUTREACH CONTINUED REGARDING THE POTENTIAL REPATRIATION AND DEACCESSION OF VARIOUS ARTWORKS FROM APA'S DECOMMISSIONED INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE GARDEN DURING THIS TIME, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND U'MISTA CULTURAL CENTRE, KWAKWAKA'WAKW NATION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA REGARDING THE REPATRIATION OF A 19TH CENTURY "HOUSE POST."OVERALL PRESERVATION CONCERNS ARE BROADCAST THROUGH THE MEDIA, BUILDING INTEREST AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION THROUGH CONTRIBUTORS TO APA'S CONSERVATION SOCIETY. THE APA ALSO ADVISES AND COLLABORATES WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING PHILADELPHIA PARKS & RECREATION, THE CITY'S PUBLIC ART OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA PRESERVATION ALLIANCE, FAIRMOUNT PARK CONSERVANCY, AND PARKWAY COUNCIL TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND THE NEED FOR ONGOING CARE OF THE CITY'S HISTORIC TREASURES.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesNov 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$446.1KMuseum Without Walls: Audio
INTERPRET AND PROMOTE PUBLIC ART: PUBLIC ART IS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND APA'S "MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS" IS OPEN ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. BY THIS VERY DEFINITION OUR AUDIENCE IS LARGE AND DIVERSE AND INCLUDES ALL AGE GROUPS, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIANS, MOTORISTS, BICYCLISTS AND RUNNERS.INTERPRETATION: TO INTERPRET AND PROMOTE PUBLIC ART, APA'S MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS: AUDIO PROGRAM FEATURES PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, INCLUDING ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, CURATORS, SCIENTISTS, WRITERS, HISTORIANS, CIVIC LEADERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS -- "AUTHENTIC VOICES" ALL WITH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE SCULPTURES. THIS CONTENT-RICH PROGRAM IS APPROACHED THROUGH A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS: ON THE STREET BY CELL PHONE, AUDIO DOWNLOAD, SMART PHONE APP, AND ON A DEDICATED WEBSITE AS STREAMING AUDIO AND AUDIO SLIDESHOWS. DURING FY 2024, THE PROGRAM WAS FURTHER DEVELOPED, ADDING TO THE NUMBER OF SCULPTURES, VOICES, STOPS AND INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE. MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS: AUDIO NOW FEATURES OVER SEVENTY-FIVE STOPS WITH MORE THAN 200 VOICES DISCUSSING THE SCULPTURES. ADDITIONS IN 2024 INCLUDED AN AUDIO PROGRAM FOR "THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE" STREET POLE BANNER PROJECT FEATURING ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY AND MORGAN LLOYD OF 1838 BLACK METROPOLIS. PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EVENTS: THE APA OFFERS PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THE APA CONTINUED TO DEVELOP ITS ROBUST OFFERING OF "DEEP-DIVE" MATERIAL, CROSS PROMOTE PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE PUBLIC ART TOURS AND TALKS.AS PART OF "THE RADICAL BLACK ELITE" STREET POLE BANNER PROJECT WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA, ARTIST XENOBIA BAILEY WAS INVITED TO PROVIDE THE SOCIETY'S 200TH ANNIVERSARY SIGNATURE TALK FOR THE THEME "SOUL OF AMERICA: LITERARY, VISUAL, AND PERFORMING ARTS." THE PRESENTATION WAS POSTED ON YOUTUBE AND INCLUDED IN THE CITYWIDE (RE)FOCUS FESTIVAL.THE APA PRODUCED A VARIETY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS RELATED TO "ART ON THE PARKWAY." THIS INCLUDED AN ARTIST TALK COMBINED WITH APA'S ANNUAL MEETING BY ARTIST RACHEL HSU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASIAN ARTS INITIATIVE AT THEIR FACILITY. THE PRESENTATION WAS MODERATED BY "ART ON THE PARKWAY" JUROR AND ASIAN ARTS INITIATIVE CURATOR JOYCE CHUNG. ADDITIONALLY, A FREE PUBLIC POETRY WORKSHOP INSPIRED BY HSU'S "THE WEIGHT OF OUR LIVING" WAS HELD ON-SITE, PRESENTED BY FORMER PHILADELPHIA POET LAUREATE TRAPETA B. MAYSON.OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS INCLUDED PARTICIPATION IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S "HISTORY ON THE STREETS" BLOCK PARTY THROUGH AN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATORY PUBLIC ART TRIVIA PROJECT, AND THE PRODUCTION OF A SELF-GUIDED TOUR HIGHLIGHTING NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC ART IN PHILADELPHIA BY WOMEN ARTISTS AS PART OF THE (RE)FOCUS CITYWIDE FESTIVAL PROGRAM. THE TOUR FEATURED WORKS BY LOUISE NEVELSON, BEVERLY PEPPER, JOYCE KOZLOFF, DIANE BURKO (ALL IN THE ORIGINAL "FOCUS" EXHIBITION), AND NEW ARTISTS SIMONE LEIGH, MEI-LING HOM, COLETTE FU, AND SOO SUNNY PARK (INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY PARK). A PUBLIC ART WALKING TOUR WAS PROVIDED IN OLD CITY AS PART OF THE MONUMENT LAB 2024 SUMMIT, AS WELL AS ONE FOR REPRESENTATIVE WAXMAN'S CONSTITUENTS IN RITTENHOUSE SQUARE.SOCIAL MEDIA: THE APA LEVERAGES DIGITAL MEDIA TO ENHANCE OUR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND CONTINUES TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY AND MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE PRESENCE ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, AND VIMEO. THROUGH INTERACTIVE POSTS, WE ENCOURAGE DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND PUBLIC ART, SHARING EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, INCLUDING HISTORIC IMAGES AND INFORMATION FROM OUR ARCHIVES, LESSER-KNOWN PUBLIC ART STORIES, AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ABOUT ART CONSERVATION. THE APA'S RESPONSIVE WEBSITE DESIGNED BY THE AWARD-WINNING FIRM BLUECADET, RECEIVED A SILVER AWARD FOR DESIGN FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE AND VISUAL ARTS, AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A "WEBBY" AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF DIGITAL ARTS AND SCIENCES. IN FY 2024 WE COLLABORATED WITH BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES FOR INCLUSION IN BLOOMBERG CONNECTS, THE FREE ARTS AND CULTURE APP HIGHLIGHTING 450+ CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE. TEMPORARY DECALS WERE INSTALLED AROUND THE CITY TO PROMOTE THE BLOOMBERG CONNECTS APP, WHICH MORE THAN QUADRUPLED THE NUMBER OF USERS FOR APA'S MUSEUM WITHOUT WALLS PROGRAM.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesNov 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$286.8K
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