A place to love: Creative Placemaking in GKP

Philadelphia Mural Arts Project

When people ask us about plans for Greater Kennedy Plaza, it is nearly impossible not to bring up the idea of Creative Placemaking.  This term is not only the cornerstone for the NEA Our Town Initiative happening in GKP this year, but a framework for much of  what we do—from food trucks to Storytime, from the Tape Art tear-down to the Burnside Park Beer Garden. So what exactly is Creative Placemaking? As Ann Markusen and Anne Gadwe state in the NEA’s  2010 report:

In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.

Creative Placemaking projects can happen anywhere, from rural communties to major cities, from a single park, or city corner, to an entire neighborhood. At their core, these projects are major collaborative efforts to reinvision community spaces and to leverage local arts and culture to transform them. There are great exampls across the nation: including Bryant Park, where a underused green space, for year a haven for crime, was transformed into a park that inspires use, programming and community gathering all year long; to the Irrigate project in Saint Paul, which has connected businesses, artists and the community to create a vibrant, artscape for 6 miles along the Central Corridor light rail line; and the Philadelphia Mural Arts program which, with the help of hundreds of local artists and some 20,000 underserved youth, has contributed nearly 3,000 murals to Philadelphia’s inner city. There is no shortage of examples of the work of Creative Placemaking in Providence, in fact Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, call’s our city “ground zero for Creative Placemaking”.  During his visit earlier this month Rooco, spent a packed day touring the state and talking about many of the projects that have shaped our city—from AS220 , often held up as a model of this process, to WaterFire to the City’s Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative , Riverzedge and now, Greater Kennedy Plaza.

Here at GKP we are constantly thinking about what defines truly great places, what makes a place feel special, and brings people together and inspires creativity.   As we prepare to start Our Town programming and design this summer, we are looking forward to figuring out our own model of creative placemaking in Providence’s core.

City of Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative

A Ship, A Fence, A Swath of Blue!

Photo courtesy of the Providence Phoenix

This Spring, landscape architecture, painting, sculpture and industrial design students from the Rhode Island School of Design are working to change the way that Rhode Islanders see and interact with Greaker Kennedy Plaza.

The class, “Spokes of the Wheel: Public Art in Kennedy Plaza,” led by local artist and RISD professor Ellen Driscoll is working closely with the staff of GKP and the Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism to create public art for the plaza and surrounding parks.

 The first round of proposals, unveiled earlier this month, were covered by the Providence Phoenix and Providence Journal.  As David Scarfenberg writes:

Greater Kennedy Plaza Launches Our Town Initiative

Exciting projects are underway in Greater Kennedy Plaza!

On Wednesday April 4th, Mayor Angel Taveras and US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse welcomed a packed room of  arts and cultural leaders, artists and business partners to the launch of Providence’s National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” initiative in Greater Kennedy Plaza (GKP).

Last year, the City of Providence, in partnership with Greater Kennedy Plaza and FirstWorks, was awarded a $200,000 creative placemaking grant  as part of the NEA Our Town funding. One of 51 Our Town grants awarded nationwide, the Providence Initiative represents an unprecedented collaboration of 18 arts and business organizations to create a new design and innovative programming for GKP.  From public arts installations to  strategic redesign and from performances in the park to a major festival this fall, the Our Town projects will be changing the face of GKP in the coming months. 

“This project has the potential to affect every citizen in Rhode Island as it turns an underappreciated urban center into the capital city’s thriving, heart and soul,” said Mayor Taveras. “Providence, Rhode Island is the nexus of creative place-making.”

Our Town will officially kick-off this summer with a public celebration on June 23rd.  More details to be announced soon!  For additional information on the project go to ProvidenceRI.com.

Blood Drive on 3/30!

Come on down for the blood drive on Friday, March 30^th, from 1:00pm-4:00pm on the Bloodmobile at the Bank of America City Center.

End of Season Hours and Discounts!

Beginning Monday, March 5th, skate at a reduced rate during our new weekday hours through the end of the season!

Monday through Friday we will be open from 2pm – 10pm. And great news – our rates will be just $3 admission and $3 skate rental for everyone during those times!

Come on down and join us for early spring skating before our season ends on March 17th.

Skate with CW28 on 2/22!

CW28, Bank of America and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island present a free family skate, school vacation week, at the Bank of America Skating Center in downtown Providence. Moms, dads, and kids of all ages are invited to lace ‘em up on Wednesday, February 22nd from 10am til 2pm. Just bring along a food item to donate to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and you’ll skate for free. Skate rental is just $4.

Plus meet Ring of Honor Wrestling champ Eddie Edwards. So join us on Wednesday Feb 22nd 10am-2pm, skate for free, and help the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Presented by Bank of America, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and CW28.

Special College Skate Night this Wednesday

This Wednesday (February 22nd) join Greater Kennedy Plaza for a special College Skate Night at the rink.

From 6-10pm enjoy a night of skating and music with DJs from BSR spinning tracks all evening and a special performance by pirate musical group ARRR!!!.  Even Zipcar is joining the fun, offering free admission to its college members!

$3 dollars to skate with college id (and $3 for rentals).   Open to the public!

Skate with Captain Hemoglobin! 1/21 from 11am – 2pm

Please join us THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 21st at the Bank of America Skating Center at 2 Kennedy Plaza in Providence for the next blood drive. The blood drive will run from 11:00am-2:00pm on the Bloodmobile.

THE RHODE ISLAND BLOOD CENTER MASCOT, CAPTAIN HEMOGLOBIN, WILL BE AT THE BLOOD DRIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE PICTURES. THE CAPTAIN WILL EVEN TRY OUT HIS SKILLS ON THE ICE!

ALL PRESENTING DONORS WILL RECEIVE A COUPON FOR A FREE POUND OF DUNKIN’ DONUTS COFFEE!

Remember, each donation can help save three lives. The Rhode Island Blood Center needs to collect up to 280 pints of blood every single day to meet the needs of area hospitals. This blood is used to treat cancer patients, burn victims, accident victims, major surgery patients, and more.

Please roll up your sleeve and give the gift of life!

You may schedule an appointment for the Bank of America Skating Center Blood Drive by clicking the link below, or simply walk in.

Hope to see you there!

Make an appointment.

New promo for the Bank of America City Center!

Courtesy Russ Dougherty, Video Excellence

Bright Night Lights Up the Rink this Saturday

This Saturday don’t miss a very special 2012  Bright Night celebration at the Bank of America Skating Rink.

From noon until midnight enjoy half-priced ice skating for the whole family. Then catch a new year skating spectacular at 4pm with special appearances from the Snow Queen, Banished Fools and guests! See schedule below:

4:15 PM: Ice Skating Spectacular: “That’s Entertainment”, a 30-minute performance on ice that will capture the best of Hollywood, Broadway and Film.

5 PM: Entrance parade by Banished Fools followed by remarks by Adam Gertsacov, Festival Director of Bright Night Providence and Lynne McCormack, Director of  the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism.   Closing with a surprise from Clare Vadeboncouer, Rhode Island’s own Snow Queen.

For more information visit: http://www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism/bright-night-providence-tickets-now-on-sale