Congratulations to Binghampton Development Corporation and Historic Broad Business Association, which has received a $350,000 grant from ArtPlace for the Broad Avenue Water Tower Depot. It’s an exciting testament to the power of guerilla creative placemaking.
According to ArtPlace, “Binghampton Development Corporation and Historic Broad Business Association will transform an active warehouse loading dock on Historic Broad Avenue into an outdoor arts venue, convert a 140 foot tall water tower into an iconic public art beacon and activate The Water Tower Depot with eight weekends of community dance, followed by eight months of community-based programming.”
Fifty-four organizations learned today that they are recipients of a substantial monetary award from ArtPlace America to support their work in creative placemaking in communities across the U.S. ArtPlace America awarded a total of $15.2 million to 54 projects using the arts to transform 44 communities (and a statewide project in the state of Connecticut).
ArtPlace America is a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies committed to accelerating creative placemaking – putting art at the heart of a portfolio of strategies designed to revitalize communities. This is the third cycle of grants awards by the collaboration. With this round of grants, ArtPlace America has awarded a total of $42.1 million in 134 grants to 124 organizations in 79 communities across the U.S. (and a statewide project in Connecticut).
“ArtPlace America recognizes the central role arts and cultural activities can have in the revitalization of American cities.” Said Rip Rapson, chair of ArtPlace America’s Presidents’ Council. “With this grant award ArtPlace America is directing individual project support to scores of creative, high-impact projects throughout the country.”
“ArtPlace America is also continuing to break new ground in drawing together some of the nation’s leading foundations to think — in a concerted way — about how these kind of projects can become more widespread.” Continued Rapson.
This year, grants will support creative placemaking in:
• Bringing new life to rural communities
• Helping communities imagine new futures
• Activating public space
• Integrating art and design into creative citymaking
• Connecting and animating communities
• Creating new anchor institutions
• Sparking redevelopment
• Providing artists housing and workspace
• Strengthening business and the economy
• Developing civic brand stories
• Stretching established cultural institutions
The 54 organizations that received grants were selected from over 1200 applications. Inquiries came from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. Grant amounts range from $750,000 to $33,000 with an average grant size of just over $280,000.
The complete list of ArtPlace America 2013/2014 grants can be found below. Images of each project can be found in this image bank.
