Syracuse mayor appoints public-arts coordinator

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh in early June announced the appointment of Anne Cofer to serve as public-arts coordinator for the City of Syracuse. In this role, Cofer leads oversight and supervision of public-art planning and coordination initiatives for city government, including advising and assisting the Syracuse Public Art Commission. Cofer collaborates with the Public Art Commission to revise and implement the city’s Public Art Master Plan. Based in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs, she also is tasked with ensuring the ongoing development of arts programs and services and engaging the community in the public-art program through educational and outreach activities, the mayor’s office said. Cofer also maintains the inventory of all public art in the city of Syracuse and pursues grants from local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as private groups/organizations. Cofer has more than two decades of experience as an arts educator, arts administrator, and practicing artist. Prior to joining city government, Cofer worked in the Syracuse City School District as the program manager for a grant-funded program in Dr. Weeks Elementary School and K-8 Art Teacher at Oasis Academy. In both roles, Cofer sought to connect the schools to the local community and played a key role in the development of Dr. Weeks as a Community School, per the mayor’s announcement. In addition, Cofer worked as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University in fiber arts and 3D design for the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Cofer received her bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of the West England and her master of fine arts degree from Syracuse University. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally and regionally, including at the Everson Museum of Art, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, and the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center.