Founded in 2001, the Design Trust for Public Space Photo Urbanism program offers fellowships to local photographers to create a new body of work illuminating the public spaces of NYC. We believe that photography is vital to understanding our shared environment and serves as a critical tool for illuminating issues and opportunities in the city’s complex public realm

In 2011, we adopted a new curatorial approach to the program, linking the fellowship more directly to an active Design Trust project. By focusing the fellowship on a particular public space issue, we give the photographer access to communities and sites they would be unable to enter alone. In turn, the photographer’s artistic vision brings a new perspective, informing and illuminating the potential of our city’s undiscovered and under-used public spaces.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

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