The Urban Art Program is an initiative to invigorate the City's streetscapes with engaging temporary art installations. As part of the World Class Streets initiative, art will help foster more vibrant and attractive streets and offer the public new ways to experience New York City’s streetscapes.
DOT will partner with community-based organizations to install temporary murals, sculpture, and other installations in plazas, and on medians, triangles, sidewalks, jersey barriers and construction fences. DOT will also work with organizations/artists on temporary art projections and lighting projects in plazas and on appropriate bridges (masonry on sides of bridges), viaducts, and archways, as well as performance art and musical and theatrical performances in plazas and DOT ferry terminals.
Organizations or organization-artist teams are invited to apply to one of the three Urban Art Program tracks:
It's simple! Download an application, fill out and provide required supporting materials. Applications will be reviewed by DOT and outside advisors following the Selection Criteria that includes: public safety, artistic merit, site suitability, organizational capacity, and artwork durability.
Program Tracks
pARTners
Commission new artwork (murals, sculpture, installations) for a DOT priority site (see site priority list) or for a proposed site.
Not-for-profit organizations are invited to submit
applications by set deadlines scheduled three times a year.
Sites that are proposed by an applicant should be
selected based on the site guidelines contained in the application. DOT will
confirm that it is indeed NYCDOT property. For example, corrugated metal
fences or jersey barriers are good candidates.
Applicants are encouraged to select an artist prior
to applying.
DOT will help oversee artwork production,
installation and de-installation.
The Applicant is responsible for artwork maintenance
and site remediation.
All not-for-profits are eligible for funding.
Not-for-profits are eligible to receive up to $5,000 for priority and
non-priority sites.
Relocate an existing artwork (sculpture,
installation) to a proposed site.
Both for-profit and not-for-profits are invited to
submit applications on a rolling basis.
Proposed sites should be selected based on the Site
Selection Tips contained in the application. DOT will confirm that it is
indeed NYCDOT property. For example, widened sidewalks or large vacant
triangles/medians are good candidates.
Applicants must select an artwork prior to applying,
and if not collaborating directly with the artist must have the right to
exhibit the artwork.
DOT will help oversee installation and
de-installation.
The Applicant is responsible for artwork maintenance
and site remediation.
All not-for-profits are eligible to receive up to
$1,000 towards installation/de-installation fees. For-profits are ineligible
for funding.
Present short-term projects (art projections,
lighting projects, performance art, musical/theatrical performances) on a
proposed site.
Both for-profit and not-for-profits are invited to
submit applications on a rolling basis.
Proposed sites should be selected based on the Site
Selection Tips contained in the application. DOT will confirm that it is
indeed NYCDOT property. For example, newly constructed plazas are good
candidates.
Applicants must select an artist/artwork prior to
applying.
DOT will help oversee event logistics.
The Applicant is responsible for programming and site
remediation.
Funding is the sole responsibility of the applicant.
Participate in the 2009-2010 DOT pARTners initiative. Submit your application today to partner with DOT to commission an artwork for a priority or proposed site. Download the current site priority list to select a priority site.
Interested organizations must apply by Thursday, September 24, 2009. All organizations will receive submission confirmation immediately by email, and will be notified in writing by shortly thereafter if approved. Selection will be competitive and at least one project per borough will be executed.
Site to Site
Participate in the 2009-2010 DOT Site to Site initiative. Submit your application throughout the year to install an existing artwork on a DOT proposed site. Applicants will receive submission confirmation immediately by email, and will be notified in writing within one month if approved.
Arterventions
Participate in the 2009-2010 DOT Arterventions initiative. Submit your application throughout the year to present a short term project on a DOT proposed site. Applicants will receive submission confirmation immediately, and will be notified in writing within two weeks if approved.
All application materials must be submitted as printed hardcopies and also included on a CD.
Applications should be mailed to:
Attn: Emily Colasacco
Manager, Urban Art Program
NYC Department of Transportation
Division of Planning and Sustainability
55 Water Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Advisory Group 2008-2009
Adam Kleinman Curator, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Charlotte Cohen Regional Fine Arts Manager, General Services Administration, PBS Heng-Gil Han Curator Visual Arts, Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning Melanie Franklin Cohn Executive Director, Council on the Arts and Humanities for SI Michele Bogart Professor of Art History, Stony Brook University Miriam Romais Executive Director/Editor, En Foco, Inc. & Nueva Luz Photographic Journal Sylvia Harris Sylvia Harris,
LLC, Information Design Strategies
Download the Urban Art Program Application (for all three programs) (pdf) 
