City Canvas - DCLA

NYC Cultural Affairs


City Canvas

City Canvas
Percent for Art
Public Art as Community Engagement
Public Artists in Residence (PAIR)
Current Opportunities

City Canvas

Percent for Art

Public Art as Community Engagement

Public Artists in Residence (PAIR)

Current Opportunities


About City Canvas

There are more than 300 miles of construction fences and sidewalk sheds that dot New York City neighborhoods. While these temporary protective structures are part of the urban landscape, in most instances they are unappealing and represent the inconvenience of construction projects. City Canvas is a program designed to allow the installation of temporary visual art on eligible temporary protective structures in an effort improve the pedestrian experience for NYC residents and visitors across the five boroughs.

The City Canvas program was initiated as a temporary pilot program and made permanent by the adoption of Local Law 163 in 2021, which became effective on September 1, 2023 and amended the New York City Charter and Building Code to permit the display of artwork on temporary protective structures (i.e., construction sheds, fences, and scaffolding). When filing an initial application permit for a temporary protective structure, property owners are automatically enrolled in the program and are offered an opt out option. Under the City Canvas program, there are two avenues for property owners to install artwork on temporary protective structures, Site-Specific Artwork and Pre-Approved Artwork.

Pre-Approved Artwork

Pre-Approved Artwork is commissioned directly by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) pursuant to section 2508 of Chapter 67 of the New York City charter, to comply with all expected standards and which property owners may license for a fee to be negotiated with artists. Visit our Licensing and Fee Guidelines for assistance.

DCLA is excited to announce the availability of new artworks by artists selected from our first Pre-Approved Art open call. Click on the thumbnails below to learn more about each project.

Ebony Bolt
The Jungle and The City, 2024

Lauren Camara
Paper Stories, 2024

Dennis RedMoon Darkeem
Travelers, 2024

Denae Howard
Little Titans Run New York, 2024

Neko Jiang
Hidden Forest, 2024

Venazir Martinez
The Shaping of New York, 2024

Bayeté Ross Smith
Our Kind of People and Mirrors, 2024

Nikki Scioscia
Plant Walk, 2024

Zazu Swistel
The Urbanite's Clinic for Decadence and Decay, 2024

Annette Weintraub
The Myrtle Walks, 2024

Step by Step Process

Select a piece from the Pre-Approved Artwork Portfolio

Review the Licensing and Fee Guidelines (linked above)

Email citycanvas@culture.nyc.gov a request to use selected Pre-Approved Artwork

DCLA will liaise a connection with the Artist

Negotiate and complete a licensing agreement with the Artist

Artist will provide the art files

Prepare a print layout with a fabricator and confirm it with the Artist

Send DCLA the final print layout and completed license agreement

DCLA will review, sign, and send back an approval notice

Upload the approval notice to DOB NOW

Site-Specific Artwork

Site-Specific Artwork is commissioned by a property owner independently or with the assistance of a partner organization that manages the production of artwork and must be approved by DCLA prior to display pursuant to section 3307.11.2.1 of the New York City building code. For more information please review the Site-Specific Artwork Guidelines and Application.

Tomashi Jackson, “Moon Folk: Passages Toward Greater Understanding,” Hudson Square, Manhattan, 2022. Image courtesy of ArtBridge.

Step by Step Process

Commission an artist, contract a fabricator, and develop a proposal for an artwork

Complete an application (linked above) and email it to citycanvas@culture.nyc.gov

DCLA will review, sign, and send back an approval notice

Upload the approval notice to DOB NOW

Production Organizations

ArtBridge is a nonprofit that has been transforming NYC's construction sheds into art exhibitions since 2009. ArtBridge can handle all aspects of LL163 implementation. Their exhibitions create value for site owners by sourcing local artists, and engaging with local stakeholders in the artwork development process.

Print Project is a New York-based printing and design shop, specializing in large scale, custom print projects in the New York area. We have had the privilege of serving New York’s largest customers for decades, and look forward to working with you on your next printing project.

Seven Willow Collaborative, a real estate and cultural advisory firm, has guided the first and largest project under LL 163 and has partnered with a group of talented, diverse, underrepresented, NYC-based artists for this program. Seven Willow has established a relationship with a reliable and responsive fabricator who will print and install using simple and reliable attachment details for a top quality result. The Seven Willow Team provides comprehensive curatorial and project management services and is expert at transforming the NYC streetscape into public art installations.