Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the NEA, has long make the link between the arts and economic development. He is one of the big hitters behind ArtPlace, a public-private collaboration to foster creative placemaking.
Robin Pogrebin at the New York Times says that ArtPlace "...likens its role to providing venture capital, seeding projects that already enjoy strong local support and connecting with an area's development strategy to attract more private and public dollars."
ArtPlace today announced its first round of grants, $11.5 million in funding given to 34 locally initiated projects across the U.S. One unique project receiving funding this round is Whirligig Park in the town of Wilson, North Carolina, which celebrates the folk art whirligigs of a local artist by relocating the artworks to central downtown Wilson in new public park:
"This one-of-a kind collection is unique to Wilson and will create a strong identification for the community. It will be a transformative catalyst for significant cultural economic development in downtown," according to the ArtPlace website.
Carol Coletta, voted one of Planetizen's Top Urban Thinkers, is the Director of ArtPlace, which officially launched today with this first round of grants. The availability of a 2nd round of grants was also made official today.
FULL STORY: Consortium Views Arts as Engines of Recovery
The Racial Reckoning in Public Spaces
Following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, there was an explosion of anti-racist street art across the country. “When we allow ourselves to release our emotions, oftentimes what is produced out of that is art.”
Why Public Art?
Public art plays a role in cities across the world. But what role exactly, and for what purpose? Glass House Conversations explores these questions in this series.
Temporary Autonomous Zones Alter Public Space in The UK
The increase in outdoor music festivals, guerrilla gardening, temporary restaurants, cinemas and pop-up shops are all examples of "a growing appetite for transforming our apparently prosaic, profit-led landscape into something else."
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie