Stories
Nov 28, 2017
Over the past several years, Chicago has been highlighted in the media as a ‘tale of two cities’: one of them safe and prosperous, the other dangerous and poor—and both of them growing more so. Nowhere in Chicago are the crises more prevalent and the social exclusion and marginalization more profound than on the South and West... Read More
Nov 29, 2017
Over the past 18 months, two Kresge Foundation teams have been working with neighborhood-based coalitions to ensure that residents have access to healthy foods and economic opportunity. We’re tackling this through an $11 million-dollar initiative Fresh, Local and Equitable – or as we call it, “FreshLo.” FreshLo envisions strengthening low-income communities by integrating Creative Placemaking and food-oriented development.
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Nov 29, 2017
In July of 2015, I was approached by Perry Stokes of Libraries of Eastern Oregon, and the Director of the Baker County Library District, about an arts program that was being funded through ArtPlace America. My first question was not about the program, but about the budget. Most of you in the library world know too much... Read More
Dec 05, 2017
Today, we are proud to announce the 23 creative placemaking projects that will receive funding in communities of all sizes across 18 states and one US territory. ArtPlace has a deep commitment to funding in rural America, with almost 52% of this year’s funded projects working in rural communities. Our National Creative Placemaking Fund has invested in communities across... Read More
Dec 26, 2017
San Luis Obispo County (SLO), CA is a highly productive agricultural area, producing an estimated seven pounds of fruits and vegetables per resident per day. Only 7% of locally grown food is consumed within the county. Community food activists wanted to create a local food distribution network at the county level. In 2015 ArtPlace funded this support... Read More
Dec 12, 2017
Last month our friends at the National Endowment for the Arts released a new research report. "Rural Arts, Design, & Innovation in America" highlights the impact of the arts in rural communities. The report notes that until now, arts and economic impact theories have been built and tested only in urban environments. NEA Director of Research & Analysis Sunil... Read More
Dec 14, 2017
For the last eleven years, Luis Ortega (Storytellers for Change) has worked with organizations, school districts, foundations, and universities to help them apply a story-centered approach to tackle complex social challenges. And that’s just what he did at the ArtPlace Summit during his Storytellers Breakout session. Why is storytelling important? How can it help, say, an organization... Read More
Dec 19, 2017
Artist Andrew Cozzens’ sculpture Smoketown Life|Line Project uses vertical metal rods to represent the “lifelines” of residents in Louisville, Kentucky’s Smoketown neighborhood. The height of the rod represents the age of each individual. The rods are sized, bent, and banded with different colors to indicate timelines and the types of trauma they’ve experienced throughout their lives: things like incarceration,... Read More
Dec 21, 2017
In Hindman, KY, the Appalachian Artisan Center will be expanding work with youth and adults to address the community’s opioid epidemic through workforce programs in traditional craft and music. These programs will also contribute to an increase in economic opportunity through the creation of jobs to meet an increasing demand for handcrafted instruments in the region. This project is... Read More
Aug 10, 2018
Elizabeth Hamby is an artist and the Acting Director of Health Equity in All Policies working in The Center for Health Equity at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. We caught up with her to talk Dungeons and Dragons, smoke free public housing, and the art of community. The health impacts of structural racism. My work with... Read More