New Partnership Will Empower Diverse Communities Across Pittsburgh through Public Art and Workforce Development

Citizens today announced its partnership with the world-renowned Andy Warhol Museum to uniquely support Pittsburgh’s diverse arts and culture scene. Building on its long history of community and workforce development support throughout Pittsburgh, Citizens has committed $350,000 to grow The Warhol Academy, expanding fellowship opportunities and fostering the development of emerging artists. The partnership also includes the sponsorship of local artist Mikael Owunna’s year-long public art installation in The Pop District.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230627993369/en/

Citizens, in partnership with The Andy Warhol Museum, unveiled a new public art installation in The Pop District as part of its commitment to empowering artists and supporting Pittsburgh's creative economy. Mikael Owunna, Anatomy of the Human, 2023, Pop Park Installation, The Pop District (Photo: Business Wire)

Together, Citizens and The Andy Warhol Museum aim to empower aspiring artists and promote the region’s vibrant arts and culture scene, creating a stronger economic future for Pittsburgh residents. The partnership makes Citizens the largest corporate supporter of The Pop District’s public art campaign, as well as the largest corporate supporter of The Warhol Academy’s creative economy fellowships for diverse young professionals.

"Citizens is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, and we believe that arts and culture are not only the foundation of a strong community, but also drivers of economic strength,” said Brendan Coughlin, Vice Chairman and Head of Consumer Banking at Citizens. “By joining forces with The Andy Warhol Museum, a beacon of artistic innovation, we look forward to fostering the creativity and diversity that will fuel the continued growth of Pittsburgh’s workforce and cultural infrastructure.”

Through The Warhol Academy, talented individuals are given fellowship opportunities to enhance their skills, explore their creative potential, and contribute to the rich cultural fabric of the region. With Citizens support, 28 new fellowships will be created for aspiring young artists in the areas of digital content creation, filmmaking and post-production.

Coinciding with the support of The Warhol Academy is the unveiling of Mikael Owunna's Anatomy of the Human which explores the intersections of technology, art, and African cosmologies. Owunna, a local artist who serves as the president of the City of Pittsburgh’s Public Art and Civic Design Commission, has captivated audiences with their unique vision and artistic expression. The installation promises to be a thought-provoking and visually stunning addition to the city's public art landscape.

"I am ecstatic to work with The Andy Warhol Museum on this commission for The Pop District, and it’s particularly meaningful to me as a queer artist from Pittsburgh,” said Mikael Owunna. “I took inspiration from Warhol's layered silk screen techniques to create a piece entitled Anatomy of the Human, which presents the four spiritual elements of the human soul as described in West African Igbo spiritual science. I cannot wait for the public to see this work and for everything to come at The Pop District."

Citizens’ commitment to the local arts scene and its dedication to community development align seamlessly with the mission of The Andy Warhol Museum. By joining forces, both organizations will work together to nurture the arts and promote inclusivity, ensuring that the legacy of Andy Warhol continues to inspire and resonate with audiences for generations to come.

"We are thrilled to partner with Citizens to support the creative and professional development of young, diverse professionals in Pittsburgh," said Patrick Moore, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum. "The Warhol Academy fellowships offer a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable skills and expertise, and we are grateful for Citizens’ support in making this program possible."

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $222.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2023. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,400 ATMs and more than 1,100 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

About The Andy Warhol Museum

Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the place of Andy Warhol’s birth, The Andy Warhol Museum holds the largest collection of Warhol’s artworks and archival materials and is one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world. The Warhol is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Additional information about The Warhol is available at warhol.org.

About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Established in 1895 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a collection of four distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum. The museums reach more than 1.4 million people a year through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities and special events.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230627993369/en/