The restoration of a Memphis bluesman’s home into an interactive music center… an art installation of aerial “nets” stretching across a Philadelphia pier where new development is happening… a venture to engage artists to creatively combat urban vacancy and foreclosure in Cleveland… these are just a few of the 47 projects awarded grants today from ArtPlace to support their use of the arts to improve quality of place and transform their communities.
“Across the country, cities and towns are using the arts to help shape their social, physical, and economic characters,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “The arts are a part of everyday life, and I am thrilled to see yet another example of arts organizations working with city, state, and federal offices to help strengthen and revitalize their communities through the arts. It is wonderful that ArtPlace and its funders have recognized this work and invested in it so generously.”
ArtPlace received almost 2200 letters of inquiry from organizations seeking a portion of the $15.4 million available for grants in this cycle. Inquiries came from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands.