North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  - Application windows are officially open for the 2024 Placemaking Grant and the 2024 Creative Pool. Through March 15, applications for grants and the Pool are being accepted by the Charlotte Urban Design Center (UDC).

The Placemaking Grant Program is an effort to give neighborhoods, individuals and businesses the opportunity to transform their community with a vibrant project of their own creation. Now in its fifth consecutive year, there is a grant pool of $150,000 available and grants will be between $1,000 and $25,000.

The Placemaking Creative Pool Program helps match local creatives with project opportunities throughout Charlotte. Project managers can select a specific artist from the Pool or interested artists can vie for the project based on their own ability and capacity. The Pool consists of a wide range of creatives who manage, create and implement original compositions.

“The City of Charlotte's Placemaking Grant is a one-of-a-kind resource, serving as a bridge to connect community members who want to enhance public spaces in their neighborhoods to the funding and design assistance necessary to make ideas happen,” said Monica Holmes, deputy director of the Planning, Design & Development Department. “Every year, we receive more creative proposals aimed at building safer, healthier and more distinctive places. We can't wait to be inspired by a new round of applicants this year.”

Placemaking Grant Project Types:

• Wall murals.
• Street murals.
• Painted traffic circles.
• Painted crosswalks.
• Street furniture.
• Signal cabinet wraps.
• Bus stop improvements.
• Pop-up plaza/park.
• Community agriculture initiatives.
• Street parklets.
• Bike parking.
• Playscapes.
• Swings.
• Sidewalk dining.
• Programming and events.
• Green infrastructure.

Interested applicants are invited to attend an upcoming virtual Q&A session on Thursday, Feb. 15, or attend an in-person session at the Charlotte Urban Design Center’s studio at 1507 Camden Road on Thursday, Feb. 29. Both sessions will be from 6-8 p.m.

The UDC launched the Placemaking Program in 2018 to transform underutilized public spaces by using urban design and placemaking. More information about placemaking can be found at the Placemaking Hub, an online resource center for community members looking to complete projects in their neighborhoods. The Placemaking Hub streamlines city processes, promotes community collaboration and accomplishes public space goals for everyone.

Visit the Placemaking Grant Program and Creative Pool Program web pages to apply for each of the programs and find out more information. Stay up to date on the UDC by subscribing to its newsletter and following on Facebook and Instagram.

Original source can be found here.