Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Grant

LOCATION Hillcroft/High Star/Westward Intersection

AWARDED $25,000

TYPE Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Grant

START Fall 2022

COMPLETION Winter 2022

DETAILS Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded 26 U.S. cities grants to help transform streets and public spaces through its Asphalt Art Initiative, which provides funds and technical support for arts-driven street redesigns that improve safety, revitalize public spaces, and engage local communities. In 10 of the cities, the Asphalt Art Initiative will work on enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety.

SUMMARY The City of Houston, in partnership with Gulfton community stakeholders, My Connect Community, and Southwest Management District, is seeking statements of interest from eligible artists for the asphalt art project, Gulfton Safe Streets. The Gulfton Safe Streets project is a design intervention proposed to integrate art into the crosswalks and pedestrian spaces at High Star Road and Westward Street at Hillcroft Street, Gulfton Community's main street corridor. We imagine the artwork will bring vibrancy to the intersection's grey infrastructure and restore the user's perception of safety when crossing and waiting in Gulfton's gateway. The artwork will be a living project – a regenerated design every 2-years, that will allow the intervention to re-inspire, be culturally relevant and meaningful over time.

ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT Houston Public Works and the Gulfton Community Selection Committee are pleased to announce that Up Art Studio has been selected as the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Grant project artist. Houston Public Works recently completed the Hillcroft Safety Improvement project announced in April 2019 by Mayor Turner as part of his Safer Streets initiative. The project included widened sidewalks, new traffic signals, signage, floating METRO bus stops, and protected bike lanes. Up Art Studio is excited and will be engaging with the community in the coming weeks to gain community insight on the project.

Questions and Answers

	How was your city selected? Bloomberg Philanthropies invited all U.S. cities to submit a project proposal to apply for the expansion of the Asphalt Art Initiative in March. Winning cities were selected based on their projects’ impact, viability, quality, and visual interest.
	What size grant is your city receiving? Selected cities will receive a grant of up to $25,000 in addition to training sessions and one-on-one technical assistance to help bring our projects to life. For further questions about funding, please reach out to Bloomberg Philanthropies.
	What is the purpose of the project? To improve safety, revitalize public spaces, and engage residents of the Gulfton community.