History & Accomplishments

Pomegranate Center was founded in 1986 by artist and community organizer Milenko Matanovic. Ever since he worked as an experimental artist in the late ’60s in his native Slovenia, Milenko has experimented with pushing art out of studios, galleries and museums and into the street, the workplace and the market square. Concerned with the isolating direction of modern communities, he founded Pomegranate Center to explore how artists can have a role outside the narrow artistic world and be actively involved in building better communities. From the beginning, Pomegranate Center dedicated itself to linking art with social and environmental issues.

Therefore, we engage community members at every stage of development: from planning and design through construction. This is where our approach is unique. Many planners and designers work for communities. We work with communities. This involvement ensures that the design reflects local character and aspirations, belongs to the community, and is a catalyst for civic vitality. It is not unusual for a Pomegranate Center project to receive 1,500 hours of time from local volunteers.

This method of listening to and involving residents as designers and builders has been shown to greatly increase the sense of pride and stewardship within our partner communities and neighborhoods. By using community skills and labor in art-making and construction, we serve communities that could not easily afford the services of commercial design firms, architects or contractors. We also promote environmental awareness and reduce project costs by using salvaged and recycled building materials and found materials whenever possible.

For 20 years, Pomegranate has successfully implemented this process and improved the quality of life in diverse communities in the U.S. and abroad:

• Creating 20 plus gathering places (most in low-income neighborhoods)
• Creating four friendship parks circling the Pacific Rim, located in the Russian Far East, China, Mexico, and the U.S.
• Adding artistic, humanizing amenities to ten affordable housing complexes
• Generating community-based planning solutions for dozens of cities and counties, including town centers, parks, trails, and other amenities
• Completing numerous public art projects
• Developing four curriculum programs linking youth with community
• Designing a teaching garden demonstrating environmentally sound practices
• Conducting interdisciplinary design workshops focused on sustainable design
• Publishing books, manuals, and articles on our methods and on sustainable design and development
• Producing three performing art festivals and a live performance series including over 50 performances
• Engaging more than 2,500 volunteers annually in community improvement projects.