Great public art strengthens cities by making them more exciting and attractive places to live, work, and visit. Public art can also help us to see urban challenges in a new light, and imagine new solutions that can have a lasting impact. --Michael R. Bloomberg 

In October 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies invited mayors from across the country to collaborate with artists and arts organizations to develop temporary public art projects to address critical issues facing their cities. The response was resounding: 237 cities submitted proposals targeting a range of urban challenges, from decaying neighborhoods to environmental awareness to building stronger community relations through creative collaboration. 

In June 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded four teams $1 million each to realize their projects: Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Gary, IN; and Spartanburg, SC. These winning proposals confronted some of the nation's most pressing civic issues: abandoned properties, drought, community-police relations, and economic development within the creative sector. At the invitation of Bloomberg Philanthropies, all four of these urban initiatives were visited by acclaimed photographer Gus Powell. A selection of his images are presented at the Spartanburg Art Museum from March 15 - May 6 2018. 

CONCURRENT EXHIBITION: GUS POWELL: THE LONELY ONES [right gallery] 

For more information, contact our Associate Curator, Ashleigh Shuler, by email at ashleigh@spartanburgartmuseum.org or call 864.582.7616 x 254.