Arts & Culture

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced $175 million in new funding for local projects that focus on creating more “livable, sustainable communities.”

Officials are hoping that the arts and creative community will take notice.  HUD worked with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to create a webinar on the grants, encouraging arts organizations to develop proposals in partnership with state and local governments, planning agencies, non-profit organizations, or other eligible applicants (click here for a rebroadcast of the webinar).  In a press release, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan emphasized that “the arts are a natural component to furthering this Administration’s commitment to creating more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable communities.”

This fall, Partners for Livable Communities will host a forum to build on the growing prominence of federal “livability” agendas such as these, and create a common framework that incorporates the full range of tools available to the movement, including the arts.   “Building Livable Communities: Creating a Common Agenda,” will be held on September 22nd at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC.  Click here for more information, or to RSVP.

Nonprofit urban café creates opportunities for local residents in arts and culture and most importantly, in employment.

As global competition rises, cities all over the world are looking to distinguish themselves.  Lending a hand in this effort is CitID, an ambitious project that hopes to give every city a chance to shine.  CitID challenges artists across the globe to create a logo for the city “closest to their heart,” then posts the results in their fascinating gallery. 

Approximately 150 cities on all 6 continents are represented so far.  The ultimate goal is to have a logo from every city in the world.  You can help them reach that goal by submitting a logo of your favorite city at www.citid.net.

Arts and Cultural Institutions:  Developing New Audiences and Better Neighborhoods. In the next two decades, this country will see a major shift in demographics of the population.The number of adults age 65+ in the U.S. will double, to more than 70 million. This upward trend is also true of the immigrant population. Immigrants now account for one in eight U.S. residents, the highest level in 80 years. For organizations that provide opportunities for arts and cultural participation, these demographic trends represent a challenge and an opportunity to expand their audiences and take leadership roles in their communities.

How are arts and cultural institutions responding?  What types of programs have been instituted?  What new partnerships have been made?  How has staff composition changed?  These are questions that Partners has been asked to answer thanks to funding from MetLife Foundation.  We are approaching arts and cultural organizations in six major cities—Atlanta, New York City, Phoenix, Dallas, Tampa and Chicago—about how and why they are reaching out to these two growth populations.

If you have a program reaching out to older adults or immigrants, we would like to hear from you.  You do not need to be located in one of the cities above—all good programs are welcome.  Please contact Penny Cuff at Partners ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-887-5990 x 101).

Mount Rainier, MD

A non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, education, and development of Latin American art and culture.