Art in the Parks

Returning for its 12th consecutive year, the annual Photoville Festival features open-air photography exhibitions throughout all five boroughs of New York City. Collaborating with hundreds of artists and programming partners to curate and present over 80 outdoor exhibitions, Photoville Festival addresses a wide range of issues giving visitors a unique experience of thought-provoking and exceptional photography from across the globe.

Locations: Exhibitions in parks can be found in Barretto Point Park and Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx; Anchorage Plaza in Brooklyn; Bella Abzug Park, Coleman Skate Park, Eugene McCabe Field, Hamilton Fish Park, and St. Nicholas Park in Manhattan; Astoria Park, Frank D. O’Connor Playground, Roy Wilkins Park, and Travers Park in Queens; and Alice Austen House and South Beach Promenade in Staten Island.

This exhibition is presented by Photoville.

BENCHMARKS is a comprehensive student arts residency program that inspires young people to tackle major social issues and become engaged citizens. Students create large-scale, meaningful artwork on benches for public display, to effect social change. Issues such as racism, gender inequality, drug abuse, homelessness, and religious intolerance are addressed through research and facilitated discussion. The project culminates in a visit to a guest artist’s studio and in the creation and public display of issue-based works of art on benches in parks citywide.

The benches can be found in Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park in the Bronx, Prospect Park Parade Ground in Brooklyn, Jackie Robinson Park in Manhattan, Cunningham Park in Queens, and Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island.

This exhibition is presented by the Center for Educational Innovation’s Arts Education Program.

​The Sing for Hope Pianos places artist-designed pianos throughout NYC’s parks and public spaces for anyone and everyone to play. The pianos bring individuals and communities together in an open festival of art for all. After their time on the streets, Sing for Hope transports the instruments to NYC public schools, where they become hubs for Sing for Hope’s ongoing creative programs and enrich students’ lives for years to come. For three weeks, Sing for Hope will place 10 pianos at sites across the five boroughs, including Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx and Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn. For more information and a list of locations visit Sing for Hope’s Pianos webpage.

This exhibition is present by Sing for Hope.

The Buried Brook is an augmented reality (AR) application and sound walk that explores the historic course of Tibbetts Brook in Van Cortlandt Park. The experience is designed to be accessed through a mobile app, which takes users on a self-guided walking tour through the park and surrounding streets, guided by the app using a smartphone or tablet device. As viewers walk, they will be able to see virtual elements overlaid on the physical environment through their device's camera, creating an augmented reality experience.

This exhibition is presented by CALL / City as Living Laboratory.

This pair of tennis court murals at St. Mary’s Park, Bronx promotes the importance of public park courts and free youth tennis programs.

This exhibition is presented by Lacoste.

This vibrant temporary art installation brightens and beautifies Loreto Playground. Consisting of circular medallions that are individually designed to resemble flowers or are based on flowers, they were created using the handcraft technique of crochet. The crocheted medallions are multi-colored and densely worked, thereby creating an explosion of color which will be seen from a long distance.

This exhibition is presented by Morris Park Business Improvement District.

People V Space is a collage of cityscapes and portraits inspired by Romare Bearden’s work. The cityscapes include neighborhood vignettes, buildings, landmarks and iconic intersections as tribute to the South Bronx. The portraits in the collage mirror the silhouettes of a crowded train car and include selected luminaries, or community heroes, within the South Bronx. No matter how small or large their impact, the buildings and people highlight the fabric of what makes the South Bronx special and gives residents an opportunity to see themselves and their communities reflected through the art.

This exhibition is presented by the Center for Justice Innovation.

HipHop 50 is a tribute to the hip-hop movement and evolution, in the form of an interactive photo wall. The experience is 100% human-powered, using a crank to light up the piece and initiate a musical medley tribute to the great New York hip hop artists.

This exhibition is presented by the 161st Street Business Improvement District.

Designed by LeMonde Studio from Québec, this captivating installation activates public spaces, inviting visitors to pause and reflect, and celebrate the power of art and community. The Big Apple continues its grand tour across NYC, from Hudson Yards to Lincoln Square, and now making its mark in the Bronx.

This exhibition is presented by the 161st Street Business Improvement District.