FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Megan Hartzell, Downtown Wichita
Director of Communications
Phone: 316.264.6005
Email: megan@downtownwichita.org
DOWNTOWN WICHITA RECEIVES $56,850 GRANT
FOR PLACEMAKING INITIATIVES
Wichita, KS – June 10, 2019 – The Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation has awarded Downtown Wichita with a $56,850 grant, which will provide funds for two unique projects focused on increasing art driven experiences in Wichita’s urban center.
“After seeing the success of Gallery Alley and the Pop-Up Park, we’re happy to support these two innovative projects, and we can’t wait to see how integrating art into non-typical areas will act as a catalyst in the core of our city.,” says Shelly Prichard, President and CEO of the Wichita Community Foundation.
The two projects include a permanent transformation of the existing Gallery Alley space, previously funded by the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation, and a new project – The Alley Doors. Details of the projects are listed below.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to improve our downtown through two new placemaking projects,” said Jason Gregory, Executive Vice President at Downtown Wichita. “The Knight Foundation and Wichita Community Foundation’s continued support of the arts in our downtown continues to significantly enhance the vibrancy of our region’s urban core.”
Gallery Alley Enhancements
Downtown Wichita has partnered with Envision to transform Gallery Alley, located at 616 E. Douglas Avenue, into a permanent destination for inter-sensory art experiences by incorporating artwork and features that are inclusive and accessible to all.
“We are pleased to participate in this exciting project that spreads the positive message that people of all abilities should have equal access to view and create art,” said Heather Hogan, senior vice president of Foundation and Mission Services at Envision. “Enhancing the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired is at the core of our mission. This art-centered project gives the individuals we serve even greater ways to express their unique viewpoints and connect with the Wichita community.”
Artists from Kansas and the surrounding states will be commissioned to create site-specific artwork with a multi-sensory approach that are fully accessible for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, have mobility impairments or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Artists will be encouraged to create work with visual and tactile elements that would explore movement, light, pattern and sound. This artwork will encourage visitors to interact with the work through touch and other modalities to allow for full, inclusive and multi-sensory experiences.
A call for entry will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Alley Doors
The Alley Doors will repurpose alley and back-of-building doors, turning them into a discovery-driven urban gallery. Kansas artists will be requested to contribute to an online artwork database where property and business owners can select artwork to be featured on their alley or back-of-building door. The goal of this project is to increase the foot-traffic of these areas and thus enhance pedestrian safety, combat graffiti and contribute to the identity and character of downtown Wichita.
A call for entry will be announced in the coming weeks.
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About Downtown Wichita
Downtown Wichita is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that amplifies the energy, capital, and growth of Downtown by empowering residents, visitors, and businesses to explore the possibilities of our city’s core. Downtown Wichita is an affiliate of the Greater Wichita Partnership. Learn more at downtownwichita.org.