OMAHA PAYPHONE PROJECT
Transforming a forgotten medium of communication into a community-centered mobile installation.
PICK UP THE PHONE.
CONNECT WITH ARTISTS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.
The Omaha Payphone Project is an interactive public art installation that reimagines payphones as spaces for community connection and cultural exchange. In partnership with Local Artists, Local Art (LALA), we are starting with a prototype for a larger vision. We are refurbishing an old payphone, designing it as a mobile installation, creating a user interface to include the artists work, etc. We will place it in different neighborhood locations throughout Omaha that will bring people into a space they might not have visited before. We will create maps showing where the installation will move (ideally 12 locations in 12 months).
Rather than making calls, users hear poems and songs from local artists when they pick up the handset— creating a living archive of our community's creative voices. We chose music and poetry because they transcend barriers and connect us across different languages and backgrounds, reflecting Omaha's diverse linguistic landscape. A companion phonebook will document participating artists and their work, celebrating the many languages spoken in our city.
We are working with All Kinds Accessibility Consulting (an incredible team) to focus on thoughtful, accessible design and access. Making this work and the opportunity to participate available to everyone, especially those with disabilities is so important to us.
STAY TUNED FOR PROJECT UPDATES
We are currently in the process of refurbishing the payphone and designing the interface that will store our artists' poems and songs.
The installation will travel to different neighborhoods throughout the city, giving residents everywhere access to local art. We are also creating a digital version of the phonebook on this website, making it accessible to a global audience.
Through our networks, we'll connect artists with international collaborators and industry professionals, opening doors for their work to reach broader audiences — whether through movie soundtracks, large-scale art projects, or countless other opportunities.