Artlantic: Atlantic City Public Art

Artlantic was a multi-year public art initiative that converted vacant lots in Atlantic City, New Jersey, into landscaped sculpture parks. Lance Fung of Fung Collaboratives curated the program for the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).

According to Fung Collaboratives' project documentation, the first phase opened in October 2012 at a site bordered by Pacific, Michigan, and Brighton Avenues. The program commissioned large-scale works by internationally recognized artists and integrated them with new landscaping, seating, and lighting designed for year-round public use.

Artists named in the project description include Robert Barry, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Kiki Smith, and John Roloff, among others. Each commission responded to Atlantic City's history as a resort destination and its need for cultural investment beyond the casino district.

Urban renewal through art

Artlantic addressed a practical problem: empty parcels left by demolished buildings had become eyesores in a city seeking economic revitalization. Rather than temporary murals, Fung's model called for permanent or long-term installations paired with park infrastructure. The result was a network of outdoor galleries accessible without admission fees.

A second phase followed in subsequent years, expanding the program to additional lots. The project received national press coverage and became a reference point for other municipalities considering art-led redevelopment.

Sources

• Fung Collaboratives. "Artlantic exhibition description." Project page. fungcollaboratives.org
• Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA). Atlantic City, New Jersey. Program sponsor, 2012 onward.
• Atlantic City press coverage of Artlantic Phase I opening, October 2012.