NEW YORK, NY.- ART FOR CHANGE, a leading platform that connects art collectors with in-demand contemporary artists and their work, and Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit that sustains Prospect Park, are pleased to announce a large-scale public art exhibition in Grand Army Plaza, PARK OF DREAMS, on view February – Spring, 2024. The project is installed on the construction fencing of the Arch, which is currently being restored by Prospect Park Alliance.

“PARK OF DREAMS is one of ART FOR CHANGE’s most exciting projects to date and we are thrilled to be working with Marcus Brutus, Kelly Beeman, Amy Lincoln, Jules de Balincourt, and Danielle Orchard amongst others,” says ART FOR CHANGE Founder, Jeanne Masel. “Parks are a crucial part of any community and Prospect Park holds a special place in my heart as a Brooklynite. Parks not only connect city dwellers to nature and offer a respite from the hustle and bustle, but they also support an incredible ecosystem of flora and fauna. Environmental conservation is a central tenet of ART FOR CHANGE’s mission. Curating and producing this project enables us to leverage our deep relationships with artists and, in turn, show our respect for a park that is both a vital aspect of the Brooklyn community and an important ecosystem in itself.”

Prospect Park Alliance’s work to restore the iconic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is part of a larger project to restore Grand Army Plaza, the formal entrance to Prospect Park, and its surrounding berms through $8.9 million in Mayoral funding. “The beloved Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon, and its plaza is an important space for community dialogue and gathering. Art and creative expression are part of what makes Prospect Park so special, and we are honored to partner with ART FOR CHANGE to present a new generation of artists in Brooklyn's premier civic space while restoration is underway,” said Morgan Monaco, Prospect Park Alliance President. “The restoration of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza spotlights the majesty of Prospect Park, enabling all visitors to be in touch with nature and take in the art that permeates these vital public spaces. I am proud to allocate $25,000 to Prospect Park Alliance’s PARK OF DREAMS exhibit, which showcases Grand Army Plaza’s revival, highlighting some of New York’s most talented, local artists that inspire creativity among the thousands of visitors who pass by each week," said Assemblymember Brian Cunningham.

"The social good that the arts and public parks bring to our communities is indisputable," said Council Member Crystal Hudson. "The partnership between the Prospect Park Alliance and Art For Change is an ambitious project that will combine these civic goods and allow our neighbors to not only engage with their built environment in a special way but experience the work of renowned and burgeoning artists in an equally innovative way."

PARK OF DREAMS is a curated presentation of contemporary artworks by Marcus Brutus, Kelly Beeman, Alyssa Klauer, Danielle Orchard, Cydne Coleby, Jules De Balincourt, Amy Lincoln, Bianca Nemelc, Maria Calandra, Jon Key, Kirsten Deirup, and Na’ye Perez, which celebrates and supports Brooklyn’s beloved Prospect Park. PARK OF DREAMS is accompanied by limited-edition prints of each image available for purchase via ART FOR CHANGE. PARK OF DREAMS was funded in part through a $25,000 grant from Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, with additional funding from Council Member Crystal Hudson. The project was undertaken through the City Canvas initiative of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and in partnership with NYC Parks.

Restoration of Grand Army Plaza

Through $8.9 million in Mayoral funding, Prospect Park Alliance is restoring the historic Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch in Grand Army Plaza. The project will replace the Arch’s roof, clean and repoint the brick and stone structure, restore the interior brass and iron staircases that lead to the roof, and replace the interior and exterior lighting. The Memorial Arch, which commemorates the Civil War, is Brooklyn’s most significant monumental public artwork. It was designed by John Duncan and completed in 1892 to commemorate the Union’s soldiers and sailors. The Arch is adorned with three bronze statuary ensembles by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies. The Alliance is also replacing uneven and worn paving around Bailey Fountain and restoring the three berms surrounding the plaza to their original grandeur with new plantings and decorative fencing.

ART FOR CHANGE connects socially conscious art collectors with in-demand contemporary artists and their work. A platform for discovery, ART FOR CHANGE offers a curated selection of museum-quality prints and original works at approachable price points. By leveraging their deep relationships with artists, galleries, and collectors, they affect positive change in the world by donating a portion of every purchase to relevant non-profits. As with all of ART FOR CHANGE’s initiatives, artists receive 50% of the net proceeds of each sale under the belief that direct investment in artists is vital to a thriving cultural ecosystem. ART FOR CHANGE is committed to making the art collecting process more accessible through selling quality prints and artworks at manageable prices, and by providing art advisory services and best-in-class insights and education to new and seasoned collectors

PROSPECT PARK ALLIANCE

Prospect Park Alliance is the non-profit organization that sustains “Brooklyn’s Backyard,” working in partnership with the City of New York. The Alliance was founded in 1987 to help restore Prospect Park after a long period of deterioration and decline. Today, the Alliance provides critical staff and resources that keep the park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home. The Alliance cares for the woodlands and natural areas, restores the park’s buildings and landscapes, creates innovative park destinations, and provides free or low-cost volunteer, education and recreation programs. Today, Prospect Park is an international model for the care of urban parks, and one of the premier green spaces in the United States.