Miami-Dade Art in Public Places was one of the first public art programs in the United States. Established in 1973, as the result of a county ordinance that allocated 1.5% of construction costs of new county buildings for the purchase or commission of art, the program continues to be a showcase for contemporary artists and their art throughout the county. Since its founding thirty-eight years ago, Miami-Dade Art in Public Places has acquired or commissioned over 700 works of art and is internationally recognized as a leader in its field.