Municipal Art Society — Safekipedia Discoverer

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) is a group that works to help keep New York City beautiful and well-planned. They want to make sure the city grows in smart ways and that neighborhoods stay welcoming to everyone.

Headquarters at 115 Broadway

MAS started in 1893, making it one of the older groups working for the city. Over the years, they have moved to different buildings. In January 2010, they left the historic Villard Houses on Madison Avenue and went to Steinway Hall on West 57th Street, near Carnegie Hall. Then, in July 2014, they moved again to the Look Building at 488 Madison Avenue. Most recently, in February 2025, they moved to one of the Trinity and United States Realty Buildings in the Financial District. Their work helps protect and improve places people love in New York City.

History

The Municipal Art Society of New York started in 1893 to help make the city better. They worked hard to create the city's first zoning laws and helped plan the subway lines. They also put up public art for everyone to enjoy.

In the 1950s, many old buildings were being torn down, so the Society started focusing on saving historic places. In 1956, they helped pass a law that let cities think about beauty and history when making rules about building. This helped lead to New York's Landmarks Law in 1965. In 2004, they helped save an old airport building designed by Eero Saarinen. They also made documentaries and exhibitions to share ideas about the city's future.

Urban Center

The Municipal Art Society used to have a place called the Urban Center on Madison Avenue. This gallery, started in 1980, helped people learn about making cities better. It also had workshops, talks, and classes there. There was even a book store called Urban Center Books with books about buildings, city planning, and nature.

The Urban Center was in the Villard Houses from 1980 until 2010. Then it moved to West 57th Street. The Center stopped working when the Society moved to 488 Madison Avenue in 2014.

Advocacy

The Municipal Art Society of New York works to protect important places in the city. They help communities plan and design their neighborhoods thoughtfully. Since 2007, they have run a program called the Livable Neighborhoods Program. This program teaches local leaders in communities that need more support how to take part in city planning and create fun designs together. Some past participants include Landmark East Harlem, Brownsville Community Justice Center, and Asian Americans for Equality.

The Society also starts campaigns to solve problems in the city, like making sure there is enough space for people to enjoy and affordable places to live. Some recent campaigns include Fight For Light, Towards Comprehensive Planning, and Greener Corridors for a More Resilient City. They joined with other groups in 2022 to form the Alliance for Public Space Leadership. This group helped the city appoint its first Chief Public Realm Officer in 2023. The Society also helped make a documentary film called The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces in 1980. The film was updated in 2025 with help from the Society.

Tours and programs

Since 1956, the Municipal Art Society has offered walking tours about buildings and history across all five parts of New York City. These tours can be taken in person or online, and they happen all year.

The Richard Morris Hunt Memorial in Central Park, honoring the organization's founder

Since 2011, MAS has also hosted a special event called Jane's Walk, honoring the work of urban planner Jane Jacobs. This event happens every year during the first weekend of May. In New York City, Jane's Walk includes many different walks about topics like culture, history, and nature. In 2025, there were over 200 walks in all five parts of the city, taking place from May 2 to May 4.

Awards

Since 1987, the Municipal Art Society of New York has given out the Brendan Gill Prize each year. This award goes to someone whose creative work shows the spirit and energy of New York City. It was created to honor Brendan Gill, a theater and architecture critic and long-time member of the MAS Board.

Since 2001, MAS has also given out six MASterworks Awards each year for amazing architecture and landscape projects in New York City. Past winners include places like the Weeksville Heritage Center, David Geffen Hall, and the Tenement Museum.