In a unique private-public collaboration, 11 of America’s top foundations – including Knight – have joined with the National Endowment for the Arts and seven federal agencies to establish ArtPlace, a nationwide intitiative to drive revitalization in cities and towns with a new investment model.

The projects will integrate artists and arts organizations into key local efforts in transportation, housing, community development and job creation. First round grants will total $11.5 million and include 34 locally-initiated projects from Honolulu to Miami.

The New York Times profiled the launch of ArtPlace noting that the project puts arts at the heart of economic development and community revitalization: 

“The program…aims to integrate artists and arts groups into local efforts in transportation, housing, community development and job creation as an important tool of economic recovery.”

To learn more, read today’s official press release announcing the launch of ArtPlace. There is also a Fact Sheet detailing the inaugural cycle of ArtPlace grants.

If you want to find out how your community can apply for a grant, visit ArtPlaceAmerica.org. The next deadline is Nov. 15.

Related headlines: 

• San Jose Mercury News, Sept. 18, 2011 Arts groups get funds to improve SoFA area  Two San Jose groups are getting big money from a private-public collaboration that’ll allow them to continue the transformation of downtown’s SoFA arts district. ZER01 and 1stACT Silicon Valley are getting $500,000 each from Arts Place….

• Broadway World / Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 2011  Local Creative Placemaking Projects Receive $600,000 Thru ArtPlace Initiative In an innovative development that is affecting Philadelphia as well as some two dozen other cities and towns across the nation, two local organizations – the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe and The Reinvestment Fund – have received grants supporting creative placemaking from an unprecedented new private-public collaboration, ArtPlace (www.artplaceamerica.org).