Albany, Schenectady, Troy Issue Call for Submissions for Public Art Projects
Albany, NY (Nov. 6)—Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan have announced a joint call for submissions for concepts for a temporary public art project at a press conference held this morning (Thursday, Nov. 6), at Kiernan Plaza in Albany.
The cities of Albany, Schenectady and Troy are jointly soliciting submissions for public art projects, as part of a collaborative response to the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge. The challenge invites mayors of cities with populations of greater than 30,000 residents to collaborate with artists and arts organizations in developing innovative projects that engage residents and attract visitors (for more information on the Public Art Challenge, please visit www.bloomberg.org/program/arts/public-art-challenge).
The mayors encourage all individuals and groups with ideas for innovative temporary public arts projects to visit UpstateCreative.org/2014-public-arts-challenge for application materials, full guidelines and additional information. Individuals and groups of all ages are eligible to submit applications, and residency in the greater Capital Region is not a requirement.
After receiving submissions from artists throughout the Capital Region, the mayors will work together to develop a single program, gather additional information, and submit a joint application to the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge. The goals of this shared initiative will be to celebrate creativity, enhance urban identity, encourage public-private partnerships, and continue to drive economic development through the region’s creative assets.
This initiative is in alignment with the findings and recommendations to be released November 13 at the Capital Region Creative Economy Regional Summit (for more information on the Regional Summit, the Regional Alliance for a Creative Economy and the Capital Region Creative Economy Project, please visit UpstateCreative.org). The joint application also reflects the growing trend toward collaboration between local cities, municipalities, businesses and nonprofit organizations to encourage projects and initiatives that benefit the entire region.
“Artists and arts organizations do more than add beauty and humanity to our communities,” said Mayor Sheehan. “They make our cities more attractive places to live and also draw visitors from near and far. This is an artistic boost for the economies of Troy, Schenectady and Albany, and for all the surrounding communities as well.”
“Thanks to the work done by the Regional Alliance for a Creative Economy and other stakeholders, we have a new understanding of the importance of creative industries and talent to the region’s economic development,” said Mayor Rosamilia. “It is critical for Troy, the surrounding areas, and our region as a whole to build on the findings in the Capital Region Creative Economy Project report to leverage our regional creative assets, address challenges, and take the steps needed to ensure that the work leads to broad benefits for the region.”
“All cities are exploring ways to bring more people into their urban cores,” said Mayor McCarthy. “In Schenectady and throughout the Capital Region, we are encouraging the development of new restaurants, entertainment venues and shopping centers. Municipalities are also hard at work developing or implementing urban housing plans that reflect the desire of young adults and Baby Boomers alike to live in thriving, walkable communities. We believe that adding public arts projects such as those that will result from this Public Arts Challenge will make our communities even more desirable and enjoyable for current residents, potential residents and visitors.”
ABOUT THE REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR A CREATIVE ECONOMY
The Regional Alliance for a Creative Economy, a community-selected assembly of Capital Region leaders working on behalf of the region’s creative economy. This project operates under the leadership of the Center for Economic Growth and the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.
The Creative Economy of New York’s Capital Region encompasses the enterprises and people involved in the origination, production, and distribution of goods and services in which artistic and cultural content gives the product or service value in the marketplace.
The Capital Region Creative Economy project has been designed to assess our region’s creative assets and develop ways to leverage related economic development opportunities (e.g. travel and tourism, local economic and infrastructure development, workforce development, etc.). This community-based, collaborative initiative will examine the creative sector, including the arts (performing, literary, visual), design (graphics, fashion), textiles, crafts, architecture, communications and marketing, cinema and film, broadcasting, software development, publishing and printing, cultural and educational institutions, craft beer brewing and distilleries, culinary arts, and more. The project activities span Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties.
For more information and a full list of partners, visit www.UpstateCreative.org.
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