Art a force for revitalization

Beginning next week, more than 300,000 visitors will come to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to enjoy and judge visual and performance art for the fourth year of that city's ArtPrize. They will spend approximately $15 million, fill downtown with people, and acquaint themselves with what the Midwestern city of 189,000 people has to offer. ArtPrize, founded by Rick DeVos, is a three-week burst of activity in the walkable center of the city. Connections between art and place are increasingly on the minds of artists, urbanists, and economic developers. ArtPlace, organized by former CEOs for Cities director Carol Coletta, announced its second round of 47 grants totaling $15.4 million earlier this year.  ArtPlace is dedicated to revitalizing cities and towns through art. An article in the September issue of Better! Cities & Towns explores this trend in detail.

For more in-depth coverage on this topic: 

• Subscribe to Better! Cities & Towns to read all of the articles (print+online) on implementation of greener, stronger, cities and towns.

• See the September 2012 issue of Better! Cities & Towns.Topics: Artists energize places, Parking and transit-oriented development, the sprawl culture war, Complete Streets, Pocket neighborhood in Illinois, European-style street, Treating people and nature better, Highway teardown and New Haven, Sustainable Urbanism and Beyond, Too Much Magic, Advice from a pioneering source

• Get New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, packed with more than 800 informative photos, plans, tables, and other illustrations, this book is the best single guide to implementing better cities and towns.