Mesa Arts Center is one of 104 applicants in 33 states and the District of Columbia to be named finalists for grants from ArtPlace, an initiative to accelerate creative “placemaking” across the nation.
The finalists were selected from more than 1,200 letters of inquiry submitted to the program and were chosen for their potential to transform communities through placing art and culture at the heart of strategies that drive vibrancy and diversity.
Mesa’s 21st Century Café Society concept — the project being considered — aims to build an interactive gathering place on the Mesa Arts Center campus. The proposed project would feature a central interactive platform, surrounded by an environment of café tables, food and beverage service, and live performances. The platform would feature multi-media screens, creating “digital bulletin boards” that would enable citizens and visitors to exchange and explore art, poetry, aspirations and concerns — facilitating a constantly evolving community dialogue.
Winners are expected to be announced in May.
ArtPlace is a collaboration of 13 national and regional foundations and six of the nation’s largest banks.
