P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center - Long Island City, NY - Contemporary Art Home Base

The P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center is located in Long Island City, NY. Long Island City is located in the borough of Queens in New York City. The Center is located at 22-25 Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Avenue, just south of the John F. Murray Playground. The Center was founded in 1971 by Alanna Heiss. Heiss was one of the forerunner's of the alternative space movement, which endeavored to convert atypical locations into areas for art exhibition. Heiss believed that traditional exhibition sites did not offer sufficient space and settings for contemporary artists. She opened the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in a 125,000 square foot building that had formerly housed one of Long Island City's oldest schools.

The Center focuses its resources on displaying experimental art and seeking out innovative and new artists. For its first twenty years, the building was used as both a studio and exhibition center. In 1997, the building was reopened after renovations. The Center qualifies as a non-profit organization and receives aid from private donors, government programs, and funding through corporations. In 2000, the Center became affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This affiliation serves to expand the audience for contemporary art, encourage new contemporary artists, and collaborate on a variety of related projects.

The Center has a number of long-term exhibitions. These include Richard Artschwager's Blips, and Don't Fight City Hall. Other artists with work in the Center include Lawrence Weiner, Keith Sonnier, James Turrell, and Alan Saret. These exhibitions are throughout the building and have been joined in the past by works by Janet Cardiff, Robert Grosvenor, David Hammons, Dennis Oppenheim, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Katharina Sieverding, and Franz West. In 2009, the Center welcomed the works of Kenneth Anger, a filmmaker whose art depicts radical critique of Hollywood. Anger's avant-garde cinema skills were portrayed on the second floor of the building amidst red and silver partitions which highlighted Anger's use of vibrant colors.

In conjunction with MoMA, the Center holds the annual Young Architects Program (YAP) competition. This program started in 2000 and is designed to allow architects to build outdoor art for the courtyard of the building. The competitors are selected by the deans of architectural schools and editors of architectural publications. A final selection is made in February.

Admission is a $5 donation or $2 for students and senior citizens. Admission is free for MoMA members. The building is wheelchair accessible and has wheelchair accessible restrooms. There are also wheelchairs available free of charge. Self-guided tours and guided tours are available. Guided tour rates are relative to the size and nature of the group. A group is a minimum of ten people. The group rates are as follows: $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, students (college and up) is $11. University professors are invited to bring their classes and lecture at the museum as well. Anyone interested in touring the Center can call 718-786-7608 for more information.

The Center is open 12pm - 6 pm Thursday through Monday. It is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.