What is the Art in Public Spaces Program?
The Art in Public Spaces program invests in publicly accessible creative works for Connecticut residents. It was one of the first state programs in the country and requires the State to spend at least one percent of the cost of constructing or renovating a publicly accessible building on artwork for that building. We work with the Department of Administrative Services to implement the program.
A portion of the one percent is set aside to purchase and preserve artwork that is exhibited in state buildings on a rotating basis. Additionally, a portion of the one percent is set aside for maintenance and conservation needs of artwork acquired through the program.
Where can I find public art in Connecticut?
Artwork from our collections can be found in state buildings, colleges, universities and technical high schools throughout Connecticut.
Take a tour of the collections at our online inventory database where you will learn about the artists, the artwork and where they are located.
The various collections include:
- Art in Public Spaces Collection is the collection of artwork commissioned or purchased for specific state agencies. Our online inventory site documents agency specific collections. When visiting this site, click on "Collections" to access individual state agency collections. View artwork in this collection at this LINK.
- Connecticut Artists Collection is the collection where artwork is acquired and displayed on a rotating basis in state buildings and public museums. Learn more at this LINK.
- Public Art Proposal Collection includes proposals submitted by artists for site-specific commissions. We value artwork in all its forms, and to preserve the story of the site-specific commissions, many of the proposals have been framed over the years. View artwork in the proposal art collection at this LINK.
How can my artwork be acquired for one of the collections?
The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) anticipates a few upcoming Calls for Art in the next few months. Most of the opportunities will focus on purchasing existing art by Connecticut artists.
Artists may submit directly to the Calls for Art when they are posted. Please sign up for public art Calls for Art notifications to receive email notifications for Calls for Art when they are announced.
Additionally, COA utilizes NEFA's CreativeGround database as a tool to find artists for public art opportunities.
- CreativeGround is a free resource developed and managed by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). COA utilizes CreativeGround as an Artist Directory when seeking artists for a variety of Opportunities.
What is the status of recent Calls for Art?
CCSU Burritt Library Annex - project complete. View artists and artwork online at this LINK.
SSCU School of Business - project complete. View artists and artwork online at this LINK.
Litchfield Judicial Court - project complete. View artists and artwork online at this LINK.
DEEP Western Headquarters - artist selected and under contract.
Contact Us
Email Tamara Dimitri to learn more.
Related Resources
- Public Art Network / Americans for the Arts
- Forecast Public Art / Public Art Review
- Public Art Dialogue
- Tools for Arts Decision Making, Percent for Art (policy briefs developed by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies)