Artists could soon paint on scaffolding, sidewalk sheds in NYC

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – A new law to allow artwork directly on scaffolding and construction fixtures could soon make New York City’s streets more colorful.

New York City Council on Thursday voted to pass a bill allowing building owners to solicit art for their construction fences, sidewalk sheds and scaffolding.

It’s an expansion of an existing program called City Canvas , which invited buildings to hang artwork from their construction structures. The new bill will allow artists to paint directly on the fences or sidewalk sheds, which is cheaper and more reliable, according to a spokesperson for Rivera.

“Sidewalk sheds are important in keeping people safe as buildings are maintained, but they can have impacts on local economies and quality of life,” said Manhattan Council Member Carlina Rivera, who sponsored the bill.

In August, a study by New York City and Mastercard found that shoppers spend less money at buildings covered with sidewalk sheds every month. At restaurants and bars, weekly transactions dropped by up to 9.7% when sidewalk sheds went up, according to the study.

Currently, the city has 9,185 active construction sheds, representing over 2 million feet of New York City sidewalk, city data show. The majority is in Manhattan, followed by Brooklyn. Some 278 of those sidewalk sheds have been up for at least five years.

The city has been limiting how long construction sheds linger, limiting permits to 90 days instead of the previously allowed 12 months. Even still, the artwork would be a welcome improvement, according to Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo.

“While we’re fully on board to ‘Get Sheds Down,’ many of these structures remain an important part of fostering a safer city,” Cumbo said . “We can’t wait to see what remarkable new installations that artists will create in the weeks and months ahead.”

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.