"Before we were paying for prime retail space," he said.

The average annual asking rents rose to $34.41 a square foot for prime space last year, from $32.97 in 1998.

In addition, artists are almost forced to compete with one other for prime space.

By comparison, prime space in Manhattan averages about $40 a foot.

Average asking prices for prime space remained stable at $28.87 per square foot a year.

The city is not only giving away prime public space to private companies, it's subsidizing their operations.

What you can do is to move them to another screen so they won't clutter up your prime space.

"Everybody we speak to says we have a prime space."

Meanwhile, the average rents increased, especially for prime space, which rose to $27.04 a square foot a year from $26.14.

Meanwhile, the average asking prices for prime space rose to $29.13 from $28.85 per square foot.