The portal is a comprehensive resource providing universal access to discover, explore, and learn more about public art across communities. The Public Art Archive™ houses thousands of public artwork records in a single, centrally located database, making these works easily accessible to all audiences, including researchers, authors, academics, policy-makers, tourists, artists, administrators, and the general public. The Archive is the only resource of its kind that offers the field standardized and highly rigorous metadata structures, controlled taxonomies, advanced mapping features, and sophisticated search and filter tools. The database is available from a desktop computer for full searching and filtering and the mobile-optimized site helps bridge the gap between artworks in the physical world and the information in the digital database. This foundation allows for the adoption of best practices in cataloguing, new opportunities for sharing information, and ensures a sustainable and scalable future for the project. We are currently accepting content submissions to the PAA in two ways. If you have up to 20 entries to add, please go to the CallForEntry.org website. Here is a link to the call itself, including eligibility and required information. Alternately, if you have more than 20 works to contribute, please see this document to begin and email [email protected] when you are ready for the import template. The PAA team works with each public art administrator to advise on how to tackle this sometimes overwhelming project. We are happy to take a few records at a time, whenever it is convenient for you. Please do get in touch. To be included in the database, artworks must meet one of the two following eligibility criteria:
1. Public artworks commissioned through an official public art commissioning process, or
acquired through a standard acquisition process (especially works that are maintained through Public Art funds), are eligible for inclusion in the Archive.
2. Works of art that are commissioned, gifted, or granted by corporations, museums, educational institutions, private parties, and other entities for the purpose of being presented in public spaces for the benefit of the public. Such works must be permanently installed but in some limited instances be allowed to be portable and/or temporary, provided their fundamental feature is that they are intended to be readily viewed by the public. Please note that when a work’s eligibility for inclusion in the Archive is unclear, final
determination on its inclusion will be made by the Public Art Archive™ Advisory Committee.
