press room

For Immediate Release

06/10/2005

Contact:
John Bianchi
Goodman Media for Americans for the Arts
212.576.2700 ext. 228


Americans for the Arts Presents the 2005 Public Art Network Award to New York City's Public Art Fund

Austin, TX—June 10, 2005. Americans for the Arts today presented the 2005 Public Art Network (PAN) Award to Public Art Fund at its annual convention in Austin, TX. The Public Art Network Award was created to recognize and honor innovative and creative contributions and commitment in the field of public art.

“Public Art Fund was selected for this honor for its longevity, exemplary outreach efforts, and commitment to artists, which collectively has cemented its international reputation and provided a model for other organizations working in the field of public art,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “If you are an advocate for public art or have either encountered one of its commissions on the streets of New York or admired a project it helped bring to fruition, you are almost assuredly a fan of Public Art Fund.”

Founded by Doris C. Freedman in 1977, Public Art Fund is dedicated to the advancement of art in the public realm and is New York City’s leading presenter of artists’ projects, new commissions, and exhibitions in public spaces. Now under the leadership of President Susan K. Freedman and Director Tom Eccles, Public Art Fund has been committed to working with emerging and established artists to produce innovative exhibitions of contemporary art for neighborhoods throughout New York City. By bringing artworks outside the traditional context of museums and galleries, Public Art Fund provides increased access to the art of our time—dismantling any barriers to the accessibility of contemporary art—and provides artists with a unique opportunity to expand their artistic practice.

The Public Art Network, a program of Americans for the Arts, is 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 in America. With offices in Washington, DC, and New York City, it has a record of more than 40 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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