N.Y.C. Artists in Residence Tackle Social Issues

New York City’s Public Artists in Residence program, started in 2015, pairs artists with city agencies to explore creative solutions to social issues. The Department of Cultural Affairs oversees the program and recently announced the four participating artists for 2019.

"Taja Lindley, a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist and activist, will spend the next year doing an unconventional residency — she’ll be collaborating with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working on a project that deals with unequal birth outcomes and maternal mortality for pregnant and parenting black people in the Bronx," reports Sophie Haigney.

Laura Nova will be in residence at the Department for the Aging, Julia Weist will be in residence at the Department of Records and Information Services, and Janet Zweig will be in residence at the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Each twelve-month residency will start with a research phase where the artist meets with agency staff and develops a proposal for a participatory project to be completed in partnership with the agency.