April 29, 2020 (DETROIT) – The Detroit Institute of Arts announced the eight communities participating in the 2021 Partners in Public Art (PIPA) program. Through PIPA, the museum collaborates with different communities to create a lasting work of public art.

“We are excited to continue working with the local communities to help create these collaborative works of public art,” said the DIA’s Director of Studio Programs Charles Garling. “In 2021, we are expanding the number of projects and I look forward to working with our partners to create works of art that uniquely represent each community.”

In 2021, the museum will double the number of projects that have been created to date with two projects completed in each county by the end of the year. Each project is created in partnership with the community, the DIA, and an artist.

2021 PIPA Projects

Macomb

• Utica
• Clinton-Macomb

Oakland

• Berkley
• Rochester

Wayne

• Wyandotte
• Detroit – Livernois/7 Mile

Work is underway to determine the locations for each project. Afterward, a survey will be distributed to each community to assess their interests and preferences for a public art project. The selected artist for each project will then incorporate those survey results into their final design. Once the design is approved by the community partners, the creation process begins.

About Partners in Public Art

The PIPA program was created in 2018 to collaborate with communities to co-create community-informed, highly visible public works of art. The goal is to help people explore, express, and build a stronger sense of community through a communal art experience.

Some of the completed projects include murals in Eastpointe and Romeo in Macomb, murals in Clawson and Lake Orion in Oakland, and sculptures in the Osborn neighborhood and Hannan Center in Detroit in Wayne County.

The PIPA program is generously funded by community investment in the tri-county millage.