6.2 EDSR 07-21-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Arts and cultural activity Boston Art Windows is a collaboration between KEYPOINT #3: can increase attention the city and local artists aiming to fill vacant store- Arts and cultural and foot traffic to an fronts in the Downtown Crossing area with exhib- activities in area, including attract- its that draw pedestrians.'The space is a streetside an area can ing visitors and increas- art gallery incorporating interactive video, light- draw crowds ing the length of time ing, and sound to encourage passersby to pause from within and money they spend, and enjoy the spectacle. One artist's camera re- and around the thereby contributing cords the movements of pedestrians and plays community. to continued develop- them back in time-delayed video loops that even- ment. Similarly,the tually cover a screen.The redevelopment authority presence of public art involves curators with the storefront show, seeing and related streetscape amenities such as artist- the exhibit as an opportunity to facilitate changes designed lighting, signs, and benches is a way to to Downtown Crossing as economic development attract pedestrians. continues. Arts and cultural activity often attracts attention, In Grand Rapids, Michigan, local artists, business whether for casual perusal or artistic investment. owners, and the public engage in an annual cre- Such activity can include events at culturally spe- ative event called Art Prize (www.artprize.org/ cific facilities such as theaters, museums, music home).Art Prize is an open contest in which any clubs, and galleries, as well as cultural activity in artist,established or emerging,can show work venues such as arenas, public parks, community and any visitor can vote on it. In essence, Art Prize centers, and schools. Communities can also de- is the creation of a context for the city to become velop creative ways to make artistic activity hap- a temporary art gallery. During this informal cre- pen in vacant or underutilized spaces. Several ative event, public participation, interaction, and communities have embraced the practice of pro- economic development are strengthened as more moting creative activity in vacant retail windows than 100 venues open for it (including local retail and storefronts as a revitalization tool. and business spaces). More than 1,000 people vol- unteer.The resulting relationships extend beyond An economic redevelopment process can often the boundaries of the competition to strengthen last several years. In an attempt to temporarily interaction among retail shops, business own- transform a street scheduled for redevelopment ers, and the art world. Economic benefits of the in Brooklyn, New York, by the local BID,the local contest include increased traffic and improved arts group Ad Hoc Art (http://adhocart.org/site) business. transformed a row of vacant stores into a street art gallery. Known as Willoughby Windows,the block of Willoughby Street between Bridge and Duffield was turned into a temporary art exhibit,which included a photography-themed screenprint where a camera store used to be, woven paper maps, and a large cash register(representative of the perceived financial mistakes of Wall Street).8 This temporary, creative art exhibit transformed an otherwise vacant eyesore into an interesting space for pedestrians. AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION