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Public Art Handbook

A handbook for public artists, created in 2000 and updated in 2011.

Image with a blue background and white text that reads "City of Albuquerque Public Art Urban Enhancement Program." Below the text, from left to right, is the City of Albuquerque seal, images of public art, and the Albuquerque Public Art logo.

Introduction: Albuquerque's Public Art Handbook

In 1999, New Mexico Arts developed a Strategic Plan to provide arts and cultural services for our varied New Mexico arts communities. Professional and technical development in the area of public art played a key role in every objective of the plan. After providing input and review of the plan, the City of Albuquerque Public Art Program and the Harwood Art Center teamed up to develop a long overdue training opportunity for public artists, The Public Art Workshops (PAWS). With the assistance of a grant from New Mexico Arts, four all-day Public Art Workshops were produced during the spring of 2000.

In 2010, the City of Albuquerque’s Public Art Urban Enhancement Program decided it was time update and polish the handbook that came out of those workshops, and to host a new, one-day Public Art Workshop in 2011. A lot has changed over the past decade; case in point, this handbook is being designed as a downloadable PDF - no hard copies will be printed, unless attendees wish to print for themselves.

Designed to be a useful reference for those applying for public art projects, it can be thought of as a comprehensive checklist to use as you develop your ideas for placing art in communities. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired or challenged each time you flip through a section. In addition to answering questions, reference materials should shed some light on important public art-related issues. We encourage you to use these materials as a springboard for further learning, participation, and enjoyment in the public art arena.

Many people help to produce both the 2000 and 2011 Public Art Workshops and this handbook. We are thankful to the following individuals for their interest in and commitment to the ongoing development of public art!

2011 Public Art Workshop Organizers

Sherri Brueggemann, Dan Fuller, Matt Carter, Becky Holtzman, Brendan Picker, Nan Masland, Mitch Menchacam, Ben Owen, Debra Garcia y Griego, Becky Alter, Patricia Dalbin, Linda Laitner, Roberto Bedoya, Paula Castillo, Nora Naranjo-Morse, Greg Reiche, and Cassandra Reid.

2000 Public Art Workshop Series Organizers

Kathryn Minette, Jane Sprague, Carolyn Moore, Paul Fosset, Sherri Burr, Evelyn Rosenberg, Patricia Torn, Karen Rudd, Steve Borbas, Gordon Chruch, Larry Ogan, Regina Chavez, Tom Powell, John Verplough, Andrea Escher, Charles Moleski, Jay Willis, and Mark Childs.

Download and print PDF versions of the handbook