Three Florida Public Art Programs to Host Slow Art Day Events

Broward County is one of three Florida-based public art programs that will host Slow Art Day events on April 27, for the first time ever. Slow Art Day is a worldwide event in which people look at a few selected works of art slowly and then get together to discuss what they have seen. More than 267 Slow Art Day events will take place worldwide, many of them at Florida art museums, galleries and public art venues.

Cultural organizations in Broward participating in this worldwide initiative are: Broward Cultural Division's Public Art & Design Program, which will host an event at ArtServe; BC/NR Regional Library; Museum of Art ¦ Fort Lauderdale; Gallery 2014; F.A.T. Village Art Walk; and the Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library. Visit the Broward Cultural Division website for further details, descriptions, times and locations for all these events on Saturday April 27, and come and join in the fun.

Other Florida public art programs hosting Slow Art Day events include Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs and St. Lucie County Art in Public Places. All three, including Broward County's Public Art & Design Program are members of the Florida Association of Public Art Professionals (FAPAP). FAPAP was established in 1998 to facilitate discussion about public art issues and support the profession in Florida. Cultural Division Public Art & Design Administrator, Leslie Fordham, when exploring the Slow Art Day website, noticed that there was a gap - that most Slow Art Day venues were museums and galleries. Fordham decided to host a Slow Art Day event in Fort Lauderdale where participants will look at public art slowly and encouraged fellow FAPAP members to do the same.

Slow Art Day is a global all-volunteer event with a simple mission; to help more people discover the joy of looking at art. The Slow Art Day website www.slowartday.com advises hosts to invite their friends, colleagues, board members, elected officials and residents to visit a museum or gallery to look at a few selected works of art for five to ten minutes each and then, as a group, discuss their experience. Simple by design, the goal is to focus on the art and the art of seeing.

Florida is renowned for its beaches and theme parks, so many people will be amazed to learn that there are more than 70 public art programs in the state; from Key West to Tallahassee. Public art can be found in Florida parks, city streets, college campuses, libraries, government buildings, airports and cruise ship terminals throughout the state. Public Art may take the form of exciting landmark sculptures, artist-designed parks, whimsical water features, fascinating light displays or special public art events.

"Phil Terry, founder of Slow Art Day says "when people look at art slowly, they make discoveries." It's easy to take part in Slow Art Day, just visit the website and locate an event, sign up and then meet at the public art venue. No special knowledge of art is needed and there is no cost to participate in a public art Slow Art Day event!

To learn more about Broward County's Public Art & Design Program, visit the Broward Cultural Division website.

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