Syracuse Sun

Published on June 3, 2024

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the appointment of Anne Cofer as Public Arts Coordinator for the City of Syracuse. In this role, Cofer will oversee and supervise public art planning and coordination initiatives for city government, including advising and assisting the Public Art Commission.

Cofer will work 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 will also ensure the ongoing development of arts programs and services, engage the community in the public art program through educational and outreach activities, maintain an inventory of all public art in Syracuse, and pursue grants at local, state, federal levels as well as from private entities.

Cofer has over 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 a program manager for a grant-funded initiative at Dr. Weeks Elementary School and as a K-8 Art Teacher at Oasis Academy. In both roles, Cofer sought to connect schools to the local community and played a key role in developing Dr. Weeks into a Community School. Additionally, Cofer served 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 West England and her Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally and regionally at venues such as the Everson Museum of Art, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, and Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. She has also been featured in several national and regional publications including Ceramics: Art and Perception as well as Ceramics Monthly.