P.S. 1

▪ arts centre, New York City, New York, United States

      not-for-profit contemporary arts centre, affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art (Modern Art, Museum of) (MOMA), located in two facilities within greater New York (New York City), N.Y.

      When it was founded in 1971, the primary function of P.S. 1, then called the Institute for Art and Urban Resources, was to convert unused and dilapidated buildings in New York City into studio and exhibition spaces for artists. In 1999 P.S. 1 began its formal association with New York's MOMA.

      The P.S. 1 Contemporary Arts Center, which was P.S. 1's first facility, is located in Long Island City, in a brick Renaissance-revival building that was constructed in 1893. The building formerly housed a primary school, which is the source for the facility's name. P.S. 1 takes a progressive approach to exhibition; thus, art works can be found in unexpected places throughout the indoor and outdoor exhibition space, including bathrooms, stairwells, and the boiler room. Other works, such as James Turrell's Meeting (1986), a conceptual skylight designed to enhance the colours of the sky at dusk, are part of the building itself. In addition to displaying contemporary paintings, sculptures, and photographs, the arts centre exhibits video, sound, and mixed-media works. P.S. 1 operates the Clocktower Gallery, located on the 13th floor of a municipal building in Lower Manhattan. In addition to gallery space, the facility features six production studios and sponsors Art Radio WPS1.org, an Internet radio station that features music and interviews.

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