Mission: To preserve and extend our sense of community through the development of new community assets in the form of long-term and permanent installations of aesthetically and culturally significant works of art.
The Public Art Endowment is a permanent fund for the creation of new community assets and is the only fund of its kind in the area. Stewardship for the Public Art Endowment is to be provided by a diverse group of Trustees who are passionate enthusiasts for the arts and for Greensboro. Trustees are to be involved in all aspects of the Public Art Endowment including selection of art works and development of related programming as well as advocacy within the greater community for the Public Art Endowment and its mission.
The Public Art Endowment:
- Was established by a lead gift from the law firm of Schell Bray Aycock Abel and Livingston in honor of the firm’s 20th anniversary.
- Is under the leadership of a Steering Committee made up of Endowment Trustees and chaired by Adair Phifer Armfield.
- Is a permanent fund for the creation of new community assets. It is the only fund of its kind in the area and benefits from strong institutional relationships with other arts organizations, including Weatherspoon Art Museum, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art and the United Arts Council.
- Is under the stewardship of a diverse group of Trustees. Full Trustees give gifts of $25,000 or more while Group Trustees join with others to make an aggregate gift of $25,000. This typically translates into a total commitment of $5000 per couple or individual. Pledges are payable over 5 years and confer permanent Trustee status.
- Has Trustees who are involved in all aspects of the Endowment including selection of art works and development of related programming as well as advocacy within the greater community for the Endowment and its mission. Trustees are supported in their work by the Art Selection Committee made up of arts professionals from around the country and chaired by Nancy Doll, director of Weatherspoon Art Museum.
- Has an initial goal of $2 million in paid pledges by 2013.
Learn more about our current installation, our past installations, upcoming events and see photos from past Public Art Endowment events.
In 2010, The Cemala Foundation generously provided a $15,000 grant to the Public Art Endowment. These unrestricted funds are used for the Endowment’s operating purposes until the initiative reaches self-sustaining levels.
We thank The Cemala Foundation for their support!
What they're saying
Public art is important because it opens up lines of communication between people of all sorts of backgrounds – one may think a work is outrageous and another may perceive it as an object of beauty. A community rich with arts and culture attracts companies, employees, families and tourists, who in turn create more energy and resources that benefit us all. Public art is an essential part of our street-scape, just as assuredly as green spaces and good architecture.
I once asked three little boys what they thought of a very offbeat sculpture. The first said it looked like a dinosaur. The second said it looked like an airplane. The third (and youngest) said it looked like a piece of junk. Although the mom was a bit embarrassed, I was thrilled that the art had opened up a world of imagination and engagement and had certainly taught me to look at things differently. We need more conversations like this on the streets of Greensboro. — Jane Levy