Artists design messages of hope displayed across 1,800 digital billboards in New York

Starting today, nearly 1,800 digital billboards across New York City—starting with the massive screens in Times Square and emanating throughout all five boroughs—will display images from artists with coronavirus-related messages of public safety, along with messages of hope for the city and gratitude for its essential workers. The campaign is a collaboration between the public art programme Times Square Arts and the New York museum Poster House. More than 20 artists and designers are participating, including Milton Glaser, Maira Kalman, Debbie Millman, Paula Scher and others. Each of the effort’s 1,774 digital kiosks and billboards was donated for use in the project. “Along with the artists in this campaign, we’re hoping to send a resounding message throughout the city and across the globe––thanking our essential workers who risk their lives to keep New Yorkers safe, as well as signalling that we as a city, and a country, will stand resilient and hopeful as we recover from this unprecedented crisis,” says Jean Cooney, the director of Times Square Arts. The city-wide effort will be visible both by New Yorkers on their essential outings, and by the workers who continue to keep the city safely moving.