OUR ORGANIZATIONS

Advocates for Privately Owned Public Space

Advocates for Privately Owned Public Space> was founded by Harvard Professor Jerold S. Kayden in 2002 to invigorate and steward New York City’s roughly 600 privately owned public spaces for the use and enjoyment of the city’s multiple publics.  Shortly after its creation, APOPS joined forces with the Municipal Art Society of New York and the New York City Department of City Planning to work on issues of public space activation.  APOPS hired a part-time senior public space specialist to help with monitoring and enforcement activities and proposed various ideas for activating POPS including an event entitled “The Red Chair Event.”  In 2005, APOPS became a stand-alone New York State not-for-profit corporation.  Soon thereafter, Kayden and APOPS collaborated with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and its president Reyn Levy in upgrading the under-performing Harmony Atrium indoor public space into what is now widely celebrated as the David Rubenstein Atrium designed by Billie Tsien and Tod Williams.  APOPS and its chair, Jerold Kayden, have renewed their collaboration with the MAS through APOPS|MAS.


The Municipal Art Society of New York

The Municipal Art Society of New York has led New York City’s livability movement since 1893. MAS’s mission is to advocate for public policies, private sector practices, individual agency and community engagement for a resilient built environment that encourages our city’s economic vitality, cultural vibrancy, environmental sustainability, livability and social diversity. For more information visit MAS.org.