New Yorkers navigating the subway system will encounter an innovative audio experience starting October 4, 2023. Conceptual artist Chloë Bass has launched a project titled “if you hear something, free something,” which will be broadcast across the public address systems in 14 subway stations, including Grand Central, Union Square, Atlantic–Barclays, and Court Square. This initiative marks the first time the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has permitted an artist-led commission to utilize its broadcast infrastructure.
The project is a collaboration between the nonprofit organization Creative Time and MTA Arts & Design, the agency’s internal arts division. Bass has designed the installation to gently disrupt the daily routines of commuters. It features 24 poetic announcements delivered in six different languages, aiming to prompt listeners to reconsider their surroundings, the individuals nearby, and their own emotional states.
“These announcements ask you to consider the space around you, the people around you, and your own emotional state a little bit differently,” Bass explained. She hopes that the project will provide individuals an opportunity to reconnect with their inner lives in public spaces. The audio experience will remain active until October 5, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of MTA Arts & Design.
Innovative Approach to Public Art
The stations selected for the project were chosen based on their sound systems and layouts, ensuring that commuters have the space to listen and reflect. Most of the announcements last approximately 30 seconds, with some voiced by professional actors and others by everyday New Yorkers recruited through a grassroots casting call. The content varies: some announcements resemble poetry, while others mimic casual conversations or share personal stories.
Participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds, including Spanish, Arabic, Bangla, Haitian Creole, and Mandarin Chinese, adapted the translations to reflect the nuances of their languages. Bass, who describes herself as a “super New Yorker” with a family history in the city that predates the subway, emphasized the deep roots of her connection to New York. Her family has lived in the city for four generations on her father’s side, while her mother emigrated from Trinidad.
The idea for this audio piece emerged from a long-held aspiration shared between Bass and Creative Time. The organization approached her in 2023 about a collaboration that would involve taking over the MTA’s public announcement system. To Bass’s surprise, the project received unanimous support, although it necessitated extensive negotiations among various departments within the MTA.
Launch and Audience Engagement
To celebrate the launch, Bass will present a live performance at Fulton Center on October 4, featuring ten performers strategically positioned throughout the station’s atrium. This event will showcase the entire sequence of announcements in order, providing a unique experience for attendees. Following the launch, the audio will be integrated into the daily commute, appearing in fragments that can surprise and delight those who encounter it.
“For the people who catch it, it’ll feel, hopefully, like a secret that they’re holding,” Bass noted, reflecting on the intimate nature of the installation. As commuters traverse the bustling subway system, the hope is that these poetic interruptions will foster a moment of introspection and connection amidst the fast-paced environment of New York City.
