Goal to enhance quality of life, promote arts and culture
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 16, 2014) — The National Endowment for the Arts has selected Lexington for a creative placemaking project aimed at enhancing quality of life and promoting equitable access to arts and culture.
Mayor Jim Gray announced that Blue Grass Community Foundation and North Limestone Community Development Corporation were awarded a $75,000 Our Town grant from the NEA.
“The area surrounding the North Limestone corridor is one of the most diverse parts of Lexington,” Gray said. “The Our Town grant will help develop the North Limestone Cultural Plan, bringing the community together to set priorities and develop strategies for improving access to public art and cultural programming.”
The North Limestone Cultural Plan will be the first master plan of its kind in Lexington. It will consist of:
- Detailed cataloging of the North Limestone corridor’s arts and culture assets
- Developing strategies to ensure equitable access to arts and cultural programming
- Identifying the community’s strengths and weaknesses in its gathering spaces
- Determining potential spaces for public art and community preferences for streetscapes and greenspaces
In addition to the cultural plan, the grant will also help fund two public art projects in the North Limestone neighborhood, including a project with Kentucky American Water and the S.L. Gimbel Foundation for the water retention tank on York Street.
“This plan will unite North Limestone residents, businesses, arts organizations, schools and city government around a cohesive vision for the community,” said Richard Young, director of the North Limestone Community Development Corp.
Blue Grass Community Foundation will administer the Our Town grant. Other partners in the project include the North Limestone Neighborhood Association, LexArts, University of Kentucky Department of Community & Leadership Development, the City, and the planning and design firm Lord Aeck Sargent.
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