New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the NYC DOT Art Partners initiative with a call for community partners to exhibit temporary public artwork on NYC DOT properties across the city. The NYC DOT Art Partners initiative allows interested community-based organizations to install temporary, site-responsive public art on NYC DOT infrastructure, including medians, triangles, sidewalks, and fully pedestrianized asphalt spaces. The NYC DOT Art Partners initiative builds on NYC DOT Art’s mission to enhance quality of life for all New Yorkers. Public art, performances, and cultural programming presented on NYC DOT properties makes our streets more attractive and vibrant while expanding access to the arts. Partner organizations are responsible for funding approved projects. The Request for Proposals (RFP) opens February 5, 2025, with a rolling deadline. The agency also released an updated Site Selection Guide to provide additional information on eligible site types.
Interested partner organizations are invited to propose NYC DOT-owned infrastructure within their communities as potential sites for temporary art. If eligible for public art, locations can serve as canvases and foundations for murals, projections, sculptures, and other art installations. NYC DOT may permit artwork for display up to 11 months. Examples of partner organizations include business improvement districts, nonprofits, art galleries, artist-in-residence programs, arts councils, museums, cultural institutions, community centers, and other nonprofit community-based organizations.
NYC DOT Art will host a webinar in March for interested organizations to learn about the NYC DOT Art Partners initiative. This webinar will review the RFP for partner organizations to exhibit temporary artwork on NYC DOT property. Artwork can be newly commissioned or already existing. NYC DOT Art will discuss the expectations for partner organizations and review the application process. Organizations can learn more at: nyc.gov/dotart. In 2024, NYC DOT Art worked with almost 20 partner organizations to permit more than 28 temporary art installations, including murals, sculptures, fence interventions, electrified artwork, and signage across all five boroughs.