NACC and public art
The Newburgh Arts and Cultural Commission (NACC) supports public art through a twofold mission: to provide artists with meaningful resources and to outline best practices that reflect the values of the Newburgh community.
These values include fair compensation for artists, prioritizing local talent, respecting historic preservation guidelines, and encouraging thoughtful programming around artwork that may address complex or challenging social themes.
To guide this effort, NACC has established two official frameworks: the Review Process for Public Art and the Best Practices for Public Art in the City of Newburgh. We invite you to explore these resources and submit your projects so we can better support your creative vision.
Review process for public art in the city of Newburgh
We believe that art has economic, social, and community value.
We are thrilled that you want to do public art in Newburgh. We ask that you consider our goals for art in public spaces. We’re here to answer your questions, provide resources, and offer advice. To that end, we’d like to gather information about your project so we can have a conversation together.
Our goals for public art in Newburgh are:
To connect and/or empower the city’s diverse communities
To be a point of entry for learning + listening
To be a platform for participation and community dialogue
What is Public Art?
Publicly displayed works of art have become a part of Newburgh’s cultural fabric, providing our community with the opportunity to engage with art on a daily basis. Publicly displayed art is defined as:
Artwork that is displayed in a manner that engages with the general public including any work of art that is displayed on the exterior of a commercial or residential building containing more than one residential unit, or on sidewalks and roads, or city-owned property.
Displaying art via the public way differs from other methods of exhibition, dispelling financial or cultural barriers and interweaving art into everyday life. Due to the highly visible nature of public art, the Newburgh Arts & Cultural Commission has developed a Best Practices Process and Review Process for Public Art in the City of Newburgh.
How do I engage with the review process?
We encourage artists and organizations to submit their public art proposals to the Newburgh Arts and Cultural Commission well in advance of implementation. Ideally, submissions should be made several months prior to the intended start date to allow time for thoughtful dialogue and support.
Projects submitted by the 15th of the month will be reviewed during the following NACC meeting, held on the third Monday of each month. Recommendations and feedback will then be provided to the applicant.