The Water Tank Project, an ambitious public art initiative slated to appear next year, would make use of one of New York’s most distinctive architectural features — the wooden rooftop watertank — to bring attention to the worldwide crisis in safe water.

As described on the project website, “For 12 weeks in the spring of 2013, carefully selected rooftop tanks across all five boroughs of New York City will be will be wrapped in works of art by celebrated figures in art, music and science as well as NYC residents.”

As described in Inhabitat, Thom Yorke and Jay-Z are among the celebrities named as participants, along with the artists Ed Ruscha and Tony Oursler. According to the project site, after New York, the organizers plan expand the initiative to other cities, including Mumbai, Rio and Mexico City.