Join us Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a public event, Monuments of the Future: Alternate Approaches, which will be held in the Segal Theatre at the CUNY Graduate Center. This panel and discussion will present physical and virtual alternatives to monument creation that use a variety of media to promote public dialogue about how and what we remember. Panelists include Kubi Ackerman, director of the "Future City Lab" at the Museum of the City of New York; Marisa Williamson, artist and creator of “Sweet Chariot: The Long Journey to Freedom Through Time; Ken Lum, co-curator of "Monument Lab: A Public Art and History Project" in Philadelphia; and will be moderated by Jill Straus, assistant professor, at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

ASHP has partnered with The Gotham Center for New York City History and the CUNY Public History Collective to host this series of public programs titled Difficult Histories/Public Spaces: The Challenge of Monuments in New York City and the Nation. The series brings together historians, art historians, community activists, and artists to discuss the ongoing reevaluation of public monuments and memorials and to engage with audiences about the often controversial histories represented.

ASHP held the first event regarding the former J. Marion Sims monument on Fifth Avenue and 104th Street last spring. The second event was held in the fall of 2018 to discuss the history of monument creation, visions for new projects, and the current pressures on New York City agencies to respond to public opinion.

The event is free and open to the public. The series is made possible with funding from Humanities New York and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit the series homepage to learn more about the upcoming program.

In order to promote a lively conversation and ensure the inclusion of as many voices as possible, we ask you to please share your thoughts on following questions on the future of monuments:

Survey: Monuments of the Future

Your responses will be pooled and presented to the panelists and the audience at the event on February 6th.