ArtPlace America has picked 21 finalists for a new program aiming to help communities infuse planning and development with arts and culture with $18 million in grants. The final six winners, which will be announced in August, in the Community Development Investments program will get advice on everything from placemaking to finances. Throughout the three-year effort, PolicyLink will lend a hand with research and documenting the projects so lessons can be shared beyond the grantees.
“The 261 applications we received are evidence of the growing interest in recognizing that arts and culture is among the core sectors of any thriving community,” said ArtPlace Executive Director Jamie Bennett. “We are thrilled that PolicyLink, with their deep experience working both in communities and with national policymakers, will partner in embedding what we learn through this program in the broader place-based strategy conversation across the United States.”
Community development corporations, universities, public health organizations and more applied, pitching projects that would tackle everything from housing development to commercial corridors. They hailed from communities of all sizes. From the press release, here are some of the city-based finalists:
Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Anchorage
Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, Los Angeles
Drexel University, Philadelphia
Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia
People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia
Women’s Community Revitalization Project, Philadelphia
See the full list here.
“In places all across this country, arts and culture are essential to the development and implementation of strategies to secure sustainable communities of opportunity and prosperity,” said Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and CEO of PolicyLink. “We look forward to partnering with ArtPlace to capture those lessons and share them broadly.”
Marielle Mondon is an editor and freelance journalist in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in Philadelphia City Paper, Wild Magazine, and PolicyMic. She previously reported on communities in Northern Manhattan while earning an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.
Follow Marielle .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)