Turnout NYC: Building New Public Spaces for New York Artists

Prior to the pandemic, people living in vulnerable areas already had limited access to cultural opportunities. Today, those scarce opportunities are at a higher risk of disappearing. Turnout NYC is creating a model to leverage public spaces as accessible venues for arts and culture.

Spearheaded by the The Design Trust for Public Space and SITU, Turnout NYC designed and prototyped flexible outdoor performance venues—one in each borough—In collaboration with cultural partners from within each community. This citywide effort led to a summer season of free concerts, performances, workshops, and more, highlighting the potential of public space for artists through new partnerships and infrastructure.

Join project leaders, community collaborators, and artists for a conversation on how the performance space "kit-of-parts" functioned in different neighborhoods and the ways in which this initiative can create replicable strategies for place-based interventions that advance equitable access to the arts.

Speakers:
Matthew Clarke, Executive Director, Design Trust for Public Space
Julie Ember, Founder, J. Ember Design
Basar Girit, Partner, SITU Studio
Jonathan McCrory, Executive Artistic Director, National Black Theatre
Victoria Munro, Executive Director, Alice Austen House
Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director, Queens Theatre
Mallory Thatch, Program Manager, Brownsville Community Justice Center

About the Organizers:
The Design Trust for Public Space is a nonprofit organization dedicated to activating and transforming shared public spaces to create a more just and sustainable city.

SITU is an unconventional architectural practice centered on social and creative impact through design, research, and fabrication.

Guided by an Artist Advisory Committee, Turnout NYC recognizes that arts organizations and artists are critical anchors in the city’s recovery and long-term health. In each borough, Turnout NYC works with a local Community Cultural Partner to connect local cultural practices and lift up community networks. Turnout NYC is supported by the Mellon Foundation and the ConEdison Arts Al Fresco Series.

This event is offered in person; COVID-19 vaccinations and face masks are strongly encouraged for all visitors. Read our full Health and Safety Protocol here.