Learn More Below
Public Benefit: Pop-Ups in the POPOS
Upcoming Activations + Events:
All activations are free, accessible and open to the Public.
Friday, September 4, 2026 - Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Text Edition
with artist Lisa Van Dusen
Anytime (all POPOS except one are open 24/7 - The (Mostly) Secret Garden is open Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm except holidays), so you can visit as many POPOS as you like on your own schedule and request a compliment atch P eaOPOS you visit.
All 12 Palo Alto POPOS - you can find a map here and more info about each of the POPOS here.
Details and RSVP - RSVPs help The Dept. know to expect you - even though you participate on your own schedule.
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
Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
Past Events:
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
Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
Thursday, July 9, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours
with artist Lisa Van Dusen
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Details and RSVP - (drop-ins welcome and expected)
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Family Slide Show
With guest artists, PressYess - Anna Newman and Meg Pohlod
8:30 - 10:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Details and RSVP - (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
Tuesday, August 4, 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
Details and RSVP - (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
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
Details and RSVP - (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Summer Laughter Party
with special guest Carla H. Brown, 2023 World Laughter Champion
5:30 - 7:30 pm | Laughter Yoga
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Details and RSVP - (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)
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
Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)Thursday, July 2, 2026
The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours
with artist, Lisa Van Dusen
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto
Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)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)
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
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
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: