Learn More Below
Public Benefit: Pop-Ups in the POPOS
Upcoming Activations + Events:
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces
with artist, Lisa Van Dusen
11:00 - 12:30 pm
Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Details and RSVP (drop-ins also welcome)
Friday, July 3, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours
with artist, Lisa Van Dusen
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Rest-A-Thon
with guest artist Agnieszka Wszolkowska
12:00 - 1:00 pm (drop in, stay as long as you like)
The Mostly Secret Garden, 245 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto
Thursday, July 9, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Altyo
With guest artists, PressYess - Anna Newman and Meg Pohlod
8:30 - 10:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces
with artist, Lisa Van Dusen
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Saturday, August 8, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours
with artist Lisa Van Dusen
9:00 - 10:00 am
Edgewood Plaza - 2080 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Dance-and-Laughter Party
with special guests Carla H. Brown, 2023 World Laughter Champion + DJ Jordyn
5:30 - 7:30 pm | Laughter Yoga 5:30 - 6:00 pm + Dance Party 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces
with artist, Lisa Van Dusen
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto
Past Events:
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Across the Table: Intergenerational Exchange
with Youth Community Service (YCS), Avenidas, and artist Lisa Van Dusen
9:30 am - 1:30 pm students | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm older adults
800 High Street at Homer Avenue, Palo Alto
Saturday, May 16, 2026
held in Common
with guest artist Angela Sanders
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
October 13–31, 2025 · 450 Bryant St, Palo Alto
Public Benefit art exhibition
Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–5:00 pm · Sat Oct 25, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (last entry 4:30 pm)
About the exhibition:
Public Benefit is an art exhibition by Lisa Van Dusen revealing Palo Alto’s Privately Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS)—public spaces hiding in plain sight. Through research, installation, and on-the-ground activations, the project invites the public to notice, explore and use these 12 sites created as a Public Benefit for you, the Public. This installation is situated among the seven POPOS in downtown Palo Alto.
PRESS & MEDIA INQUIRIES: