The Clocktower: Institute for Art and Urban Resources The Clocktower contemporary art exhibition space situated within an abandoned tower on the top of a New York City Municipal building in Tribeca was the first initiative of the Institute for Art and Urban Resources organization. A leading proponent of the alternative space movement in New York during the 1970s, program director Alanna Heiss, organized the transformation of a number of urban spaces into viable locations for the exhibition and promotion of contemporary art. Electronic Arts Intermix began to sponsor these ventures in March of 1973, securing funds from the National Endowment of the Arts, as they spoke directly to EAI's mission to supporting innovative projects. With this critical financial assistance, the Clocktower Gallery showcased the work of scores of emerging and experimental artists. Its programs attracted hundreds of visitors and the attention of the underground arts scene, while also garnering a significant amount of critical acclaim. Originally the base of operations for the Institute for Art and Urban Resources's activities, which also included the administration of the P.S.1 Contemporary Arts Center in Queens, the Clocktower space at 108 Leonard Street now houses the studios of contemporary artists participating in P.S.1's national and international artist-in-residence program. |
 Image courtesy of P.S.1 |
Project Statement This page contains the Clocktower's project statement, transcribed from two grant applications to the National Endowment for Arts. |
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