Smart Growth America is excited to announce the selection of three transit agencies to participate in the second round of the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response initiative. A call for locally-based artists interested in working on the projects is now open.
Back in early 2016, we launched the Scenic Route website, a new interactive guide to help transportation professionals collaborate with artists and to introduce creative placemaking to transportation planners, public works agencies, and local elected officials. This guide was an important touchstone, but the evolutions in this field and the notable projects that have happened since its launch have left it in need of an update, which we’re pleased to announce is on the way.
Last week, we brought together the artists and agency staff involved in the nation’s first ever artists-in-residence at state departments of transportation to reflect on the inaugural year of the program. Speakers shared their reflections on the residencies, how they coped with the current pandemic, lessons learned, and plans for the future of these novel programs.
Earlier this week, in partnership with Forecast Public Art, Smart Growth America held a webinar featuring the artists and transportation agencies who worked together as part of the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response initiative to address COVID-related transportation challenges.
Smart Growth America is now accepting applications for the second round of the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response, an initiative for transit agencies looking to creatively and quickly address pandemic-related transportation challenges. Interested agencies may apply using the form here.
With support from the Kresge Foundation, and in partnership with Forecast Public Art, Smart Growth America (SGA) is now accepting applications for the second round of the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response, an initiative for transit agencies looking to creatively and quickly address pandemic-related transportation challenges.
In 2020, we chose five agencies to receive funding to address COVID-related transportation challenges and systemic inequities in unique, creative ways, with the support of local artists. With projects on the ground and some results in hand, this report includes a detailed profile of each of the five projects, considers what was learned, and reflects on the incredible benefits of working with artists to address inequities and improve transportation for everyone.
West Central Initiative (WCI), a rural regional planning agency in west central Minnesota, worked with artist Naomi RaMona Schliesman to come up with creative, safe ways to engage the community during COVID-19 and better inform their Safe Routes to School planning.
Bay Area Rapid Transit worked with artist Tosha Stimage to pilot an approach to normalize the culture of wearing a mask on transit and deconstruct the racism worsened by COVID-19.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada worked with artist Ashley Hairston Doughty and public art consultant Mark Salinas to design signage that would effectively educate the public about social distancing and safe transit riding practices at their main transit hub, the Bonneville Transit Center.