For centuries, the key to the city has been used to honor a city’s heroes and visiting dignitaries. Now, artist Paul Ramírez Jonas has created a Key to the City that is not only a symbolic award, but also a functional key—opening spaces across all five boroughs of New York City. This Key to the City is intended for everyday citizens, who will award one another the key for reasons large and small. Once in hand, the key launches a citywide exploration of back doors, front gates, community gardens, graveyards, and museums that suggest... Read more

For centuries, the key to the city has been used to honor a city’s heroes and visiting dignitaries. Now, artist Paul Ramírez Jonas has created a Key to the City that is not only a symbolic award, but also a functional key—opening spaces across all five boroughs of New York City. This Key to the City is intended for everyday citizens, who will award one another the key for reasons large and small. Once in hand, the key launches a citywide exploration of back doors, front gates, community gardens, graveyards, and museums that suggests that the city is a series of spaces that are either locked or unlocked.

Curated by Nato Thompson, with curatorial assistant Shane Brennan. Produced by Gavin Kroeber with production assistant Elissa Goldstone.

Get a Key: Keys will be distributed from the Key to the City kiosk on Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets, in Times Square.

Come to the kiosk with a friend, because the Keys aren’t just given out—you will recognize a friend, colleague, or loved one for a certain deed or trait by bestowing a Key to them. After waiting in a short queue, you will receive a Key to bestow, and a map of the locks the Key unlocks. The Keys are free, and you can bestow as many as you would like.

The event is brought together by Creative Time.

Find out more in our blog: http://www.artlog.com/posts/1201-key-to-the-city