Placemaking

The Downtown Alliance’s public space activation program, Art is All Around, offers an exciting opportunity to bring new attractions and amenities to our community and enliven Lower Manhattan. Thanks to the partnership of property owners in the district, we have brought installations from local and international artists as well as free performances to more than a dozen of the neighborhood’s public spaces since 2019.

The program, fully funded by the Downtown Alliance, provides property owners with a simple way to activate and enrich public spaces and supports Lower Manhattan’s evolution into a mixed-use neighborhood. Art is All Around projects generate positive publicity, help local small businesses, and contribute to the neighborhood’s vibrancy and attractiveness to workers, visitors and residents.


Art installation "Domino Effect" lit up at dusk with decorated holiday trees in background.
Gina d'Soto project performing on the plaza at 140 Broadway.
Art on the Ave fall installation visible in the storefront window at 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

The Alliance hosts wintertime light experiences that invite the public to interact with fun and whimsical artwork that brightens and activates otherwise underused public plazas in the darker and colder months.

The Alliance partners with local artists to produce concert series, pop-up performances, theatrical walking tours and more. Previous activations have included dance, comedy, theater, live music and more.

The Downtown Alliance’s commitment to beautifying the district extends to streetscape initiatives, including a collaboration with Art on the Ave to host local artists’ work in vacant storefronts.

  • Selection and curation of art and performance
  • Installation/Deinstallation
  • Security
  • Maintenance
  • Marketing
  • Insurance

Interested in partnering with the Downtown Alliance?

Email [email protected] for more information.

For more on our Placemaking work, see our brochure here.



Performer leading theatrical walking tour stands at Bowling Green fountain surrounded by tour attendees, with U.S. Custom House building in background.
photo credit: Maria Baranova

The New York Times featured an Alliance performance arts series. “In ‘Downtown Stories,’ Theater That Uses New York as Its Stage. Three productions — two fictional walking tours and one “docu-theater” play — weave New York City’s landmarks into interactive theatrical storytelling.”

Vogue named Downtown Live one of 14 events not to miss in spring 2021. “Running over two consecutive May weekends, Downtown Live—a new, free arts festival in New York—will mount performances from notable actors, writers, and musicians at venues across Lower Manhattan (including, intriguingly, a covered loading dock at 4 New York Plaza).”

Trumpet player performs amid outdoor audience, with quirkly public art light installation in view.

The 2023 spring Art Is All Around series “Light and Sound” married public art and live performance to great success. Two interactive art installations — “Optik,” created by the Urban Conga in collaboration with Serge Maheu, and “Roseaux,” created by 1ToMn in collaboration with UDO Design and Serge Maheu — were placed on Cortlandt Way and at 200 Water St.

The installations were paired with a weekly concert series with music and movement programmed by esteemed New York musician and producer Svetlana Shmulyian, with performances taking place at alternating locations between 200 Water St. and Cortlandt Way

Woman attaches plastic wish ribbon to colorful installation "Star Light Star Bright"

The immersive installation “Star Light Star Bright,” created by design studio Hou de Sousa, was on view on the plaza at 140 Broadway from November 2024 to January 2025. The public pavilion, shaped like a brightly lit star, took inspiration from the cross-cultural tradition of wish trees.

Visitors were invited to tie colorful “wish ribbons” representing their hopes and dreams to the 75,000 links in the chains. As each ribbon was added, the installation grew larger and brighter. Pre-printed wish ribbons were available at local businesses, dubbed “wish partners,” further engaging the downtown community. The Alliance paired the installation with lunchtime events at the 140 Broadway plaza, complete with live music and free refreshments. “Star Light Star Bright” received favorable press from a number of outlets, including Forbes, Designboom and Colossal.


Six Questions With “Star Light Star Bright” Designers Hou de Sousa Six Questions With “Star Light Star Bright” Designers Hou de Sousa Put on Your Dancing Shoes: We’re Hosting a Free Lunchtime Concert Series Put on Your Dancing Shoes: We’re Hosting a Free Lunchtime Concert Series “Geo” Immerses Downtown in Color and Light “Geo” Immerses Downtown in Color and Light Art Installation “Domino Effect” Will Make Winter a Little Brighter Art Installation “Domino Effect” Will Make Winter a Little Brighter “Art Above the Mantel” Offers New Take on the Classic Holiday Window “Art Above the Mantel” Offers New Take on the Classic Holiday Window Five Questions With Victoria Pennacchio, ADNY’s Placemaking Manager Five Questions With Victoria Pennacchio, ADNY’s Placemaking Manager Check Out the Glowy “MoonGARDEN” at 85 Broad Street Check Out the Glowy “MoonGARDEN” at 85 Broad Street Here’s the Lineup for the Art Is All Around Lunchtime Concert Series Here’s the Lineup for the Art Is All Around Lunchtime Concert Series