Thank you to the many people who have been blog contributors to, and readers of ArtsBlog over the years. ArtsBlog has long been a space where we uplifted stories from the field that demonstrated how the arts strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically; where trends and issues and controversies were called out; and advocacy tools were provided to help you make the case for more arts funding and favorable arts policies.

As part of Americans for the Arts’ recent Strategic Realignment Process, we were asked to evaluate our storytelling communications platforms and evolve the way we share content. As a result, we launched the Designing Our Destiny portal to explore new ways of telling stories and sharing information, one that is consistent with our longtime practice of, “No numbers without a story, and no stories without a number.”

As we put our energy into developing this platform and reevaluate our communications strategies, we have put ArtsBlog on hold. That is, you can read past blog posts, but we are not posting new ones. You can look to the Designing Our Destiny portal and our news items feed on the Americans for the Arts website for stories you would have seen in ArtsBlog in the past.

ArtsBlog will remain online through this year as we determine the best way to archive this valuable resource and the knowledge you’ve shared here.

As ever, we are grateful for your participation in ArtsBlog and thank you for your work in advancing the arts. It is important, and you are important for doing it.

SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)

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SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)was installed in Boston Harbor during the fall of 2016. The installation instantly engaged the public with 22 bright orange figures floating in a kinetic, dynamically changing group. Animated by wind and currents into mesmerizing formations, the attention grabbing display caused passers-by to stop, look and consider: Each foam figure represents nearly one million of the estimated 21.3 million refugees worldwide who face peril seeking safety and freedom. SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)sparked conversation in national print media, on local TV networks and around the blogosphere. Members of the public posted hundreds of pictures to social media with hashtags #SOSswimmers, #FortPointArts, #FortPointChannel. FPAC calls SOS its “most successful project to date in terms of audience engagement.” FPAC’s social media platform exploded in the days and weeks following the installation, with hundreds of comments sparking thousands of reposts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Ann Hirsch
Secondary Artist’s Name : 
Jeremy Angier
Fort Point Arts Community
Friends of Fort Point Channel
Friends of Fort Point Channel
A+J Art+Design
Mixed Media
Public Space
Waterway/River
Installation
Kinetic
Sculpture
2016
Fort Point Channel, Boston, MA 2210 Boston, MA
Temporary
SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)
SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)
SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)
SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)
SOS (Safety Orange Swimmers)
2017
Fort Point Channel is a historc waterway in Boston Harbor. The Fort Point Channel Art Basin sits between the Congress and Summer Street bridges, overlooked by The Boston Tea Party Museum, The Children's Museum, and several prominent landmarks and buildings in Boston's financial district, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The Fort Point neighborhood's historic warehouse buildings are home to one of New England’s largest arts communities.
Private
10,000
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