Conexion Americas Receives ArtPlace Award
By ArtPlace –
Conexión Américas has received a $325,000 Creative Placemaking award from ArtPlace America, one of 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.
Conexión Américas, in partnership with Transportation for America (which just released an ArtPlace-funded research report on arts, culture, and transportation), will commission artists to lead a series of community design charrettes to improve pedestrian safety in the Nolensville Pike corridor of Nashville, TN. The corridor is a wide, high-speed road with crumbling sidewalks and an overall design that prioritizes the movement of vehicular traffic over pedestrians and cyclists.
In partnership with Transportation for America, Conexión Américas commissioned a study to understand the risks of involuntary displacement that may result from their efforts to improve the Nolensville Pike corridor.
Our National Creative Placemaking Fund has invested 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.
We received 987 applications for this year’s grant cycle, from which 70 finalists were selected. Of the 23 projects announced today, 12 are first-time applicants, with one project receiving funding for the second time.
Meet the 2017 funded projects here.
“Creative Placemaking seeks the full and robust integration of art and culture into the decisions that define the ebb and flow of community life. These projects embody what this looks like at its most effective,” said Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation and Chair of the ArtPlace President’s Council. “We were overwhelmed by the extraordinary commitment demonstrated in these projects – contributing to the growing understanding of creative placemaking efforts throughout the nation.”
With today’s announcement, ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund has now supported 279 creative placemaking projects in 223 communities of all sizes, totaling $86.4 million worth of investments across 46 states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
“This year’s investments highlight critical dimensions of creative placemaking strategy that can provide great inspiration to communities across the country.” said F. Javier Torres, Director of National Grantmaking at ArtPlace.
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