ArtPlace America announced that Conexión Américas is one of 70 finalists for the 2017 National Creative Placemaking Fund (NCPF).  ArtPlace selected these 70 proposals from 987 applications, making Conexión Américas’ project one of just 7% of the projects across the country to make this cut.

ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund is a highly competitive national program, receiving 987 applications this year. Investing 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.  

Conexión Américas has proposed to work with a coalition of organization’s to implement culturally relevant artistic projects and “complete streets” designs along the Nolensville Pike corridor to improve safety and build civic pride. These artistic interventions were developed with community input during the Envision Nolensville Pike process, a year-long, arts-based community planning process, which relied on drawing, model building, storytelling and prototype building to bridge cultural divides.

“With ArtPlace’s support, our coalition will address Nolensville Pike’s problems while protecting what we love in order to create the community we envision: one that is reflective of the vibrant residents that live here, one that is safe and healthy, one that encourages the creative expressions of its residents and one that is empowered to advocate and implement change for years to come,” said Renata Soto, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Conexión Américas.

“The National Grants Program is actively building a portfolio that reflects the full breadth of our country’s arts and cultural sector, as well as the community planning and development field,” said ArtPlace’s Director of National Grantmaking F. Javier Torres.  “Knowing that these projects, and the hundreds of others who applied, are using arts and culture strategies to make the communities across this country healthier and stronger is inspirational ”

“We believe that these projects, when added to our tremendously strong portfolio of demonstration projects, will inspire, equip and connect members of the arts and culture field, the community planning and development field and those who are working to make healthy and equitable communities creatively across the country,” said ArtPlace America Executive Director Jamie Bennett.

The complete list of the 2017 applicants for ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund may be found here.