UrbanArt is project partner for grant that will fund outdoor public arts venue beneath water tower icon
Mayor A C
Wharton announced the award of a $350,000 ArtPlace America grant for the Broad
Avenue Water Tower Depot, an ambitious project transforming an active warehouse
loading dock area on historic Broad Avenue’s north side into a
community-focused outdoor arts gathering and performance space, and converting
a 140-foot water tower into a public art beacon. The project will commence in summer 2013.
Broad Avenue Art District was chosen from
more than 1,200 applications as “an exceptional example of creative place-making.”
Official recipients of the funds are the Binghampton Development Corporation
and Historic Broad Business Association.
The iconic water tower will become a piece of
art in its own right. The UrbanArt Commission will oversee a national call for
artists to submit proposals. The selection of the winning design will be based
on a community-driven selection process. In a spirit of collaboration, Crosstown Arts will host a public
dinner party, at which
the competition winner will be selected by vote.
ArtPlace America is a collaboration of
leading national and regional foundations, banks and federal agencies committed
to accelerating creative place-making – putting art at the heart of a portfolio
of strategies designed to revitalize communities. This is ArtPlace America’s
third cycle of grant awards. With this round of grants, in total, ArtPlace
America has awarded a total of $42.1 million in 134 grants to 124 projects in
90 communities across the U.S. (and a statewide project in the state of
Connecticut).
“This grant provides a major boost to an
historic area of our city that has been going through a grass-roots
renaissance,” Mayor Wharton said. “It is a creative use of space that will
double as industrial warehouse and loading dock during the week, and as a
public and artistic gathering space on weekends and for special events.”
The Broad Avenue project includes
construction of a terraced seating and public art installation area, a national
competition for an artistic design for the water tower; a dance festival, and
eight weekends of free outdoor community dance concerts, including dance
classes and live music.
“The project and the grant could not have
happened without the enthusiastic participation of Loeb Properties, which owns
the warehouse and water tower, and Power & Tel, which uses the space and
loading dock every day,” said David Wayne Brown, president of the Historic
Broad Business Association.
“We’re also indebted to the Binghampton
Development Corporation for its assistance. And, I want to single out our
business association’s vice president, Pat Brown, manager of T. Clifton
Gallery, who put many hours into getting the project defined and the grant
application done. We’re beginning a project that truly will transform the art
district into a unique magnet for the public, for artists, and for businesses.”
The warehouse and loading dock area will be
opened up and connected to the businesses along the street via terraced seating
and a functional public art installation. Designed by nationally-recognized
sculptor Ben Butler in conjunction with engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill,
Inc., the space will be approximately 40 feet wide and extend the length of the
warehouse. The venue will have seating for 200 people.
The first annual Broad Avenue Dance Festival
will be held in April 2014 featuring a free performance showcasing a dance
company to be selected. The festival will be coordinated by Collage Dance
Collective, a new business resident on Broad. The festival will be followed by
eight weekends of free community “dance concerts” to include dance classes in
the new performance space. Community-based programming will continue throughout
the year to activate the Water Tower Depot as a continuing venue, including music,
dance, children’s activities and bicycle-related events.
The Water Tower Depot will be created
alongside the future Overton-Broad Connector, tying bike trails east and west
in the city.
“ArtPlace America recognizes the
central role arts and cultural activities can have in the revitalization of
American cities.” Said Rip Rapson, chair of ArtPlace America’s Presidents’
Council. “With this grant award ArtPlace America is directing individual
project support to scores of creative, high-impact projects throughout the
country.”
“ArtPlace America is also continuing to
break new ground in drawing together some of the nation's leading foundations
to think — in a concerted way — about how these kinds of projects can become more
widespread.” He added.
The
54 organizations that received grants were selected from over 1200
applications. Inquiries came from all 50 states as well as the District of
Columbia. Grant amounts range from $750,000 to $33,000 with an average grant
size of just over $280,000.
