Image by wallyg via FlickrA few years ago I attended an informational meeting about the Sprout Fund’s public art program to learn more about murals in cities. What I took away from that brief meeting was a new appreciation of the idea of public art – I had never thought much about the idea of bringing art to people in their neighborhoods. Museums are great and Pittsburgh has some great museums but you have to go there to see the art. The Sprout Fund’s program was based on the public art program in Philadelphia which now has over 2200 murals around the city.

Pittsburgh has always had some interesting public art – some of which has been lost and found over the years and the Sprout Fund has supported the addition of new murals each year.  Click here to read about some of the new public art along the Great Allegheny Passageway.

If you are interested in learning more about Public Art – check out this work shop on Saturday, October 25, 2008 called Public Art 101. This day long workshop is being held at Point Park University Downtown and the presenters are involved in Public Art in Albuquerque, NM, Boston, MA and Pittsburgh.

Public Art 101
Saturday, September 25, 2008
Point Park University
Presenters: Sherri Brueggemann, Public Art Program Manager, Albuquerque, NM; Ricardo Barreto, Director UrbanArts Institute, Boston, MA; Ann Rosenthal, Artist, Pittsburgh, PA; Renee Piechocki, Director, Office of Public Art; and Lea Donatelli, Program Manager, Office of Public Art
Cost: $20/$25

Click here for more information and to register.

More blog posts on Public Art:

• Fun with Public Art: Berkeley’s “Big People” Honor Dumpster Muffin & Co.
• Guide to Light Rail Art
• Andy Rooney on public art
• WTF is Going on at 24th and Castro?
• Andy Rooney Rants About Public Art on 60 Minutes
• Web site devoted to finding lost gloves
• Two very different takes on public sculpture and art
• ‘Inverted church’ triggers public art debate