Ten years of public art on protected land
A turnkey public art program for land trusts
Art in Places designs and delivers public art and poetry programs that turn trails, conservation lands, and natural spaces into outdoor galleries.
Activate your land. Engage your community. Expand your mission.
If you have land, you already have a gallery.
Art on the Trails · soutHborouGH Open Land Foundation · Est. 2017
Why Art in Places?
A gallery you already own
Land trusts face a common challenge: how to encourage people not only to support conservation, but to experience and connect with protected land in meaningful ways.
Our signature program, Art on the Trails, was developed and refined over ten years in partnership with the Southborough Open Land Foundation in Southborough, Massachusetts, bringing together visual artists, poets, conservation advocates, and community members in a temporary outdoor exhibition. Unlike traditional arts programs, Art in Places programs are designed as a turnkey framework that adapts to a wide variety of landscapes and organizational capacities.
Public art
Poetry and literary arts
Environmental appreciation
Community engagement
Educational programming
Destination-based visitation
Benefits
Benefits often include
Increased Visitation
The program attracts visitors who may not otherwise engage with conservation properties, introducing new audiences to the organization’s mission and protected lands.
Community Engagement
The exhibition creates opportunities for residents, artists, schools, volunteers, sponsors, and local businesses to participate in a shared community experience.
Mission Awareness
Visitors gain a deeper understanding of the role conservation land plays in protecting natural resources, enhancing quality of life, and preserving community character.
Fundraising and Sponsorship
The program creates opportunities for sponsorships, grants, donor cultivation, and community partnerships.
Positive Public Relations
Art in Places generates compelling stories, photography, social media engagement, and media coverage that elevate the visibility of both the exhibition and the host organization.
The partnership
Designed to minimize the burden on you
What the land trust provides
Grant Recipient
Serve as the fiscal sponsor and grant recipient for program funding.
Site Access
Provide access to a suitable trail system, conservation area, or protected property for exhibition installation and visitor access.
Organizational Partnership
Collaborate with the Art in Places President on planning decisions, timelines, and communications as needed.
Volunteer Participation
Provide volunteers where available to support installation, events, and visitor engagement.
No prior experience managing an art exhibition is required.
What Art in Places provides
The expertise, framework, and operational support needed to implement the program successfully. Services may include:
Program planning and management
Call for artists administration
Artist communications
Sponsor development guidance
Event planning
Volunteer coordination guidance
Curatorial framework development
Juror selection and management
Installation planning
Marketing support
Poetry program integration
Documentation and reporting
Scalable to the size, goals, and capacity of each host organization.
A year in the program
Four seasons, one exhibition
Winter
Planning and fundraising
Partnership agreement
Site review
Grant applications
Sponsorship outreach
Program calendar development
Spring
Artist selection and preparation
Call for artists
Juror review process
Artist notifications
Site planning
Marketing launch
Summer
Installation and exhibition
Artwork installation
Opening celebration
Guided walks
Community programming
Artist engagement activities
Fall
Closing and evaluation
Closing event
Artwork deinstallation
Sponsor reporting
Program evaluation
Planning for future years
Major program milestones
Site Assessment
Evaluation of trails, visitor circulation, accessibility, and installation opportunities.
Artist Call and Jury
Selection of high-quality artwork appropriate for outdoor exhibition.
Exhibition Installation
Placement of artwork throughout the site to create a curated visitor experience.
Public Programming
Opening events, guided walks, artist talks, poetry readings, and educational activities.
Documentation
Photography, visitor engagement tracking, sponsor reporting, and program evaluation.
About
Catherine Weber
Founder and President, Art in Places®
Catherine is an award-winning storyteller, poet, artist, community organizer, and marketing executive with a passion for the arts, education, and the environment. Among her many roles, she performs and produces at Moth-style storytelling events, shows her artwork nationally, and organizes community programs and events locally. She was raised in upstate New York, Indiana, and Connecticut and has lived in Southborough, Massachusetts for 28 years. She holds a BA in Communications from Emerson College and an MA in Critical and Creative Thinking from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Catherine is also owner of Southborough Free Art Gallery, a tiny gallery at the end of her driveway. Learn more at catherinemweber.com.
A proven model
For more than ten years, Art in Places has demonstrated how public art can strengthen community connection to conservation land while creating memorable cultural experiences. The program has engaged artists, poets, volunteers, sponsors, conservation advocates, and thousands of visitors while establishing a sustainable framework that can be replicated in communities of many sizes.
Art, nature, and community
Art in Places helps land trusts activate their mission, expand their reach, and create lasting impact.
Contact
For partnership opportunities, consulting services, or licensing information, contact: