ARTPLACE AMERICA INVESTS AN ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION
TOWARD CREATING HEALTHY, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
29 projects across 19 states and 2 US territories will further position arts and culture as a core sector of comprehensive community planning and development
Today, ArtPlace America (ArtPlace) is proud to announce the 29 creative placemaking projects to receive funding in communities of all sizes across 19 states and 2 US territories. In these projects, residents use arts and culture strategies to strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of their communities.
ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund is a highly competitive national program – funding 2% of initial applications – that invests money in communities across the country in which artists, arts organizations, and arts and culture activity help drive community development change across 10 sectors of community planning and development: agriculture and food; economic development; education and youth; environment and energy; health; housing; immigration; public safety; transportation; or workforce development.
The complete list of 2016 projects to receive ArtPlace funding may be found here.
“Creative Placemaking seeks the full and robust integration of arts, culture, and community-engaged design into the decisions that define the ebb and flow of community life. These grant recipients embody what this looks like at its most effective best,” said Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation and Chair of the ArtPlace President’s Council. “The sheer volume of applications for these grants suggests the growing updraft of creative placemaking efforts throughout the nation.”
With today’s announcement, ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund has supported 256 creative placemaking projects in 187 communities of all sizes, totaling $77.7 million worth of investments across 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
ArtPlace received nearly 1,400 applications for this year’s grant cycle, from which 76 finalists were selected. Of the 29 projects announced today, 72% are first-time ArtPlace applicants, with 97% receiving funding for the first time. ArtPlace also continues to invest in rural America, with almost 30% of this year’s funded projects working in rural communities.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be adding this dynamic set of projects to our portfolio this year,” says F. Javier Torres, Director of National Grantmaking at ArtPlace. “The thoughtful and innovative strategies in this year’s projects are truly indicative of the vital role that artists and arts and culture organizations play in strengthening local policy, and the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities.”
ArtPlace will invite applications for its next round of funding in January 2017. To receive notification when the guidelines are available, subscribe to updates at the top right corner of ArtPlace’s homepage.