The Sprout Fund Announces 2005 Season of Public Art

(PITTSBURGH) – The Sprout Fund is pleased to announce the 2005 Season of Sprout Public Art! Sprout Public Art Program Coordinator Morton Brown will be conducting outreach/information sessions at the Sprout Office every Thursday at 12:00 noon beginning January 13, 2005 and running straight through to the artist and community applications deadline of March 16th, 2005.

The applications will be available online and in paper form on January 13, 2005. Please spread the word and encourage interested artists or communities to contact Sprout for more details on how they might participate. All artist fees, supplies and equipment are provided by Sprout and all murals are completely free to communities. Sprout is very proud of the sixteen murals that have been created in the program thus far, and are looking forward to bringing high quality public art to a neighborhood near you! Note-It is possible for Sprout to visit your neighborhood and discuss the program with your local leaders or civic groups. If you would like to hold such a meeting in your community, please contact the Sprout office as soon as possible so that the meeting can be scheduled.

Sprout Public Art improves the image of the region by enhancing the visual landscape of neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities of Allegheny County by creating high quality public art. The program encourages dialogue on public art between the community and the artist, contributes to community and neighborhood development, and raises awareness about the important role that local artists can have in shaping communities. Sprout Public Art addresses three key issues: disconnect between visual culture and day-to-day life, level of leadership and personal investment in the region’s neighborhoods, and lack of support for the ideas and creativity of people living in the Pittsburgh region.

Within the first two seasons of Sprout Public Art, 16 communities have collaborated with artists to develop enduring public art that enhances the urban landscape and considers the people of the community, their history, and their hopes for the future. During the summer of 2005, Sprout Public Art will again create murals in diverse neighborhoods within Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities throughout the region. For more information and images of Sprout Public Art visit www.publicart.sproutfund.org.

Contact:
Morton Brown Program Coordinator
(412) 325-0646, morton@sproutfund.org



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