Author: Hunter, Tish

Publication Year: 1976

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Abstract:

The National Endowment for the Arts, an independent Federal Agency was established in 1965. Its major goals are to make the arts more widely available, to preserve the nation's cultural heritage, to strengthen its cultural organizations, and to encourage its creative talents.

Architecture + Environmental Arts is one of the Endowment's twelve program areas. Its primary aim is the improvement of our built environment - a rather broad-ranging target. The program has made available in its eleven year history approximately $17.5 million for projects ranging from the design of fountains as sources for masking urban noise to major regional planning studies.

During this time a surprising number of grants have been awarded to organizations and individuals who through their research, planning, and design efforts are concentrating on revitalizing the commercial centers of our cities and towns. This booklet is a partial listing of those people and projects engaged in realizing the economic and social potential of our downtowns.

It makes sense at a time when we need to save energy, to conserve our land and resources, to invest in the potential of our existing commercial cores. Downtowns have traditionally been reservoirs of jobs, shopping opportunities, and cultural facilities, but they have not responded well to change or the general exodus to the suburbs of people and businesses.

Still the potential is there. Design, whether it is a masterplan for the enhancement of the entire downtown community or the restoration of an individual structure, helps unlock this potential. Indeed, the renovation of a single building is often the catalyst needed to set an example for others to transform a deteriorating downtown into a healthy, vital one. Signage, landscaping, street furniture, pedestrian orientation, lighting and many more design elements also help enhance a downtown, making it a more pleasant and safe place to shop, walk, visit, or in which to enjoy leisure or cultural pursuits.

Although the many grants listed here respond to the specific concerns of a particular community, they are applicable in attitude and ambition elsewhere. The grants range from research and public awareness projects to planning and design. So, whether you want to reuse an existing structure or make the old environment more cohesive and enjoyable, there should be a grant listed that will inspire and encourage you to get the most out of your downtown and, in the process, help revitalize your whole community.

CONTENTS
1. General interest.
         Downtown environment.
         Preservation and enhancement research & studies.
         Appearance and amenities.
         Streets.
         Public awareness.
         Zoning and legal aspects.
         Structures.

2. Large cities.
         Downtown environment.
         Preservation and enhancement.
         Appearance and amenities.
         Visual quality.
         Streets and movement corridors.
         Pedestrianization.
         Art and culture.
         Structures.

3. Small towns (less than 50,000).
         Downtown environment.
         Preservation and enhancement.
         Appearance and amenities.
         Public awareness.
         Structures.

4. Index.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Community Development