Public Art & the Law: Exploring Public Art Commissions (Part 2)
September 13, 2024
About the Event
Center for Art Law hosted a conversation with Samantha Rauer, Deputy General Counsel at NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Kendal Henry, Assistant Commissioner, Public Art at NYC Department of Cultural Affairs about processes involved in commissioning public art through the City of New York, and the legal considerations artists and cities must navigate. The session included a discussion about the mission and objectives of public art, the role and the benefits of integrating art into public spaces. The program focused on the commissioning process of public art, detailing the steps involved in commissioning art and how artists are chosen through calls for art and various selection processes.
To understand differentiate between temporary and permanent public art installations and understand the contractual differences and requirements for each type, we invite to view the handouts and recording. The webinar addresses moral rights and intellectual property considerations highlighting key elements in public art contracts and discussing the specifics of licensing agreements with cities and the implications for artists.
About the Speakers
Kendal Henry, Assistant Commissioner, Public Art at NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Kendal Henry is an artist and curator who lives in New York City and has specialized in the field of public art for over 30 years. He illustrates that public art can be used as a tool for social engagement, civic pride and economic development through the projects and programs he’s initiated in the US and internationally.
He’s currently the Assistant Commissioner of Public Art at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and oversees the city’s temporary and permanent art commissions through the Percent for Art, Monument Commissions, Public Artist in Residency (PAIR), and City Canvas programs. Kendal is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development and guest lecturer at various universities and educational institutions including Rhode Island School of Design Senior Studio; and Pratt Institute’s Arts and Cultural Management Program. He served as the Director of Culture and Economic Development for the City of Newburgh, NY where he created the region’s first Percent for Art Program. Prior to that post he was Manager of Arts Programs at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Art and Design for eleven years. During this time, he has overseen the commissioning, fabrication, and installation of MTA’s permanent art projects, served as a member of the MTA’s in-house design team, and produced temporary exhibitions at Grand Central Terminal.
Kendal was also elected to serve two 3-year terms on the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council.
Samantha Rauer, Deputy General Counsel at NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Samantha Rauer is the Deputy General Counsel at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Previously, she has worked as a senior staff attorney on the Community and Economic Development Project at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, where she represented small business owners and not-for-profit organizations, and was a staff attorney at Mobilization for Justice. She is a member of the New York City Bar Association Art Law Committee and is a 2013 graduate of Boston University School of Law.
Handouts and Reading Material
Read the handouts HERE.
