Support Your Local Artists This Holiday Season!

We're all gearing up for the holidays and of course buying gifts has become part and parcel of the season. Although looking for various types of gifts for all the different people in our lives has become less stressful and made easier with department stores and shopping malls offering a wide range of products, artisanal holiday markets have become the new hub to do this same type of cross shopping.


In New York, holiday markets are sprouting up all across the city - indoors and outdoors - and offering customers carefully-curated and unique shopping experiences filled with independent vendors selling an eclectic array of goods. A few weeks back, I stumbled upon Ridgewood Market Holiday Night Bazaar inside a German beer hall in the burgeoning neighborhood. Although the indoor market was discreetly located and inconspicuous, within 45 minutes I was armed with gifts for everyone on my list and not only did I spend much less than I would have at Bloomingdale's, I also got gifts that were handmade and one-of-a-kind.


This community-based artisan market, for example, features over 40 local artists who live or work within the neighborhood and that night all of them were out selling their products in person. There were ceramic pieces carved by hand in a nearby studio, metal jewelry mixed locally, and even honey harvested in local backyards. The truly engaging shopping experience that artists/vendors at such markets are able to offer is also special as many are able to speak eloquently to the process and inspiration of each product being sold.

As more research begins to point to the importance of maintaining physical retail presence and creating compelling shopping experiences to attract millennial shoppers, these holiday markets are certainly doing a great job offering millennials the stories they seek and the opportunities to touch, feel and test products.

Most importantly, this type of local and artisanal market is also fast becoming an outlet for artists, or aspiring small business owners, to test their products on the market and start building a customer base at a particularly crucial time of the year for retail. So for those of you who are still struggling to find the perfect gifts for all the special people in your lives, visit your neighborhood artisanal holiday market in your beer hall, church, or park, and support the local artists and aspiring business owners living amongst you!

Check out amNY and TimeOut New York for their lists of holiday markets in NYC!

Round Up: Urban Taxidermy, Tightening the Rust Belt, Tips for a Successful Art Tour, The Elements of Placemaking

Jargon Watch: "Urban Taxidermy"

As cities struggle to maintain character of neighborhoods and commercial districts, they are conflicted between two options, the preservation of old buildings versus allowing development to proceed. By preserving a district you also preserve a "walkable, vibrant streetscape where people want to be." Enter Urban Taxidermy.

Robert Allsopp defines urban taxidermy as "the art of preserving, stuffing and mounting buildings for lifelike effect to simulate an intrinsic social, cultural or commercial vitality."

Before urban taxidermy.

After urban taxidermy.

Do Parts of the Rust Belt ‘Need to Die Off’?

Experts suggest that struggling Rust Belt cities must look to the future of their cities by slimming down strategically through "smart decline."  Smart decline refers to "the ways in which cities can plan around population loss and find ways to manage it (and maybe grow again one day)." Some strategies include moving lowest density occupants to compact neighborhoods, building greenbelts instead of maintaining untraveled streets, encouraging urban farming or letting the barren areas revert to nature.

Helping the Public Enjoy Art

A multi-tiered approach to getting people out for an art tour in downtown Des Moines, Iowa offers some ideas on how to attract visitors to your district for one-off events and beyond.

Public Space at the Crossroads of Everything

The "place" in Placemaking is the combination of many more elements than you might've previously even considered. 

Murals on Pitkin Avenue

I had an opportunity to tour Pitkin Avenue yesterday with Daniel Murphy, the ED of the Pitkin Avenue BID. In addition to some great pizza, we enjoyed a beautiful day on the strip during our diagnostic site visit. Having completed a market study on Pitkin over three years ago before Dan's tenure, it was great to see the impact he has had in relatively short period of time. One thing caught my eye...the stunning new murals that Dan made happen (and that have remained graffiti free!), courtesy of funding from the NEA Our Town program and in partnership with Groundswell and the NYC Department of Probation. This community has seen its fair share of challenges, but these murals speak the potential and future of this incredibly diverse community.

Considering a Downtown Mural? Great! But first educate yourself on the Visual Artists Rights Act

Downtown murals are a popular commercial revitalization technique. They help build community pride, reduce the incidence of graffiti-tagging, and help communicate to shoppers that an area is improving and as a result safer, more attractive place to shop. (See a white paper I wrote for LISC a few years ago entitled “New and definitive evidence on what works to revitalize urban commercial corridors”). But did you know that the federal government confers rights to artists that protect their works of art from modification, destruction or removal? In some cases that is the right thing to do as it allows the artist to maintain the integrity of the original artwork, but in other cases it may impede new projects or development. I will leave that moral judgment for others, but what is important to know is that the federal Visual Artists Rights Act, also known as VARA, gives artists rights to their artwork and prevents the destruction of their art without the artist’s consent.

5Pointz, a former industrial building in Long Island City, Queens, NY,
is well known for the graffiti art that adorns the facade. 

Take for example the famous “Graffiti Building” in Long Island City known as 5Pointz. The building is slated for demolition and redevelopment by the owner, but a number of artists whose artwork adorns the building now claim that the Visual Artists Rights Act means that that the art (and therefore the buildings) “cannot be altered, modified, damaged or destroyed without the artists’ permission,” according to 5Pointz attorney Jeannine Chanes. (Read more: “Graffiti artists of5Pointz go to court to save building”). The case is still pending. 

Ken Twitchell's "Ed Ruscha" mural in the early year

The facade had deteriorated and been vandalized

Another frequently cited example is Kent Twitchell’s famous ‘Ed Ruscha’ mural in Los Angeles. The mural took nine years to paint during the late 1970’s and 80’s. Since then, the mural had fallen prey to some vandalism and lack of maintenance, but the amazing image was still there lording over a parking lot. In 2006, the mural was unceremoniously painted over, without any attempt to ask permission of the artist, as required by law. Twitchell later settled a lawsuit for $1.1 million dollars, the largest VARA settlement to date.

According to Wikipedia, VARA exclusively grants authors of works that fall under the protection of the Act the following rights:

• right to claim authorship
• right to prevent the use of one's name on any work the author did not create
• right to prevent use of one's name on any work that has been distorted, mutilated, or modified in a way that would be prejudicial to the author's honor or reputation
• right to prevent distortion, mutilation, or modification that would prejudice the author's honor or reputation

Painted over in 2006

The courts however have found that artist’ rights are not absolute, and must also be tempered against commercial realities.

Anyone considering a mural should educate themselves on VARA, and know that VARA waivers are frequently employed to avoid confusion about rights at a later date. VARA waivers "must be very specific: the creator must consent in a written and signed instrument specifically identifying the artwork, the uses of that work, and with a clause limiting the waiver to both aspects. Where the artwork is created by more than one author, any one creator's waiver binds the group.” (From “A Guide to the Visual ArtistsRights Act”).

So by all means, plan for that amazing mural, but be sure to educate yourself, the property owner and the artist on their rights and obligations. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure...

Using Public Space and the Arts to Drive Economic Development in Providence, RI

Although I have been going to Providence for nearly two years for a client, amazingly enough this was my first visit to WaterFire (why oh why did I miss Prof. Frenchman's class trip during grad school over a decade ago?!). It was an incredible experience that only served to reinforce the power of thoughtful planning and infrastructure investment. For communities considering investments both big and small in public space, WaterFire provides an example of how public space, when designed correctly, can offer artists a "stage" for their creativity and enliven a downtown with activity and visitation that creates some serious economic impact. In this case, the "stage" took the form of the daylit, and previously buried, Providence River. The project to bring the river back took ten years and nearly $60 million dollars, and included the removal of bridges and roadways that has obscured the river for decades. While daylighting was not done precisely for WaterFire, it might as well have been. The river and its surroundings we perfectly positioned to served as an inspiration for a piece of performance art that is credited with significant economic impact on downtown businesses.

WaterFire, Downtown Providence, RI

For those who don't know what Waterfire is, it is a live performance and art exhibit and the brainchild of Barnaby Evans. During the evenings in warmer months from April to November, a series of floating bonfires burn in the middle of the river. These fires are continually fed fresh wood by black clad volunteers in small gondolas. The event began in 1994 to celebrate First Friday's in downtown Providence.

My tour guide for the evening was friend and colleague Frank Latorre, of the Providence Downtown Improvement District, whose efforts to keep downtown lush, planted, green, clean and safe have also played a significant role in the downtown renaissance  As we walked, Frank bumped into some friends and colleagues (the benefits of small city living!), including Barnaby Evans, the creator of WaterFire, and his head fundraiser, Bronwyn Dannenfelser.  Chatting with Bronwyn about the event offered me unique insight into what makes WaterFire so special - and perhaps more  difficult to replicate than many might think. The proximity of the bonfires to the river paths create a dynamic interplay that touches every sense - visitors are close enough smell the burning cedar and smoke, hear the wonderful international music that wafts through the air, see the visuals of volunteers calmly stoking the fires on still waters and the reflection of the flames. The exact public infrastructure that lends itself so well to WaterFire is difficult to replicate elsewhere without tweaks to the concept. That said, it works in Providence and the restaurants and bars that line the River could not be happier. Visitors now come to Providence from near and far to see the extraordinary event and spend their money at hotels, stores and dining establishments.

The main lesson here is perhaps less about WaterFire than it is about the absolutely transformative effect, and sometimes unexpected but wonderfully creative outcomes, that emerge from a well designed public space. Communities far and wide should look to create not just any open space, but open space that creates economic development opportunity by offering a dynamic interplay between public space, arts activities and local businesses.

Going "Store by Store" to Help Local Business Owners Improve their Displays

Finding ways to help local business owners improve their window displays is a perenial issue. The small convenience stores typically found in urban areas are notorious for their cluttered displays, boxes and merchandise in the window blocking views into the store (which has the added "benefit" of turning store into a target for thieves), and posters and stickers haphazardly placed over all the windows. Many of us are very familiar with this challenge. But a creative partnership between a local Visual Arts school and a local development corporation in Staten Island hopes to change all that. As a consultant to the Coro Neighborhood Leadership Program, the first commercial district leadership training program of it's kind in the nation, I had the benefit of hearing Michelle Sledge, Economic Development Coordinator for the Northfield Community Local Development Corporation share the impact of her "Community Change Project" with her NL colleagues as part of our final program day.

The results of her efforts, a program dubbed ¡Revive!, brings together graduate students from the Manhattan School of Visual Arts (SVA) to provide volunteer service that helped make the display windows of Monte Alban, a Mexican market, more appealing. According to Michele, the owner couldn't be more pleased with the outcome and believes it is helping business. Her story is one of many that I heard yesterday that continue to inspire me - and I hope they inspire you too! I'll be sure to share a few others with you in the coming weeks.

Here is a great video documenting the day....

Giving a new meaning to "Paint the Town Red"

Murals are a wonderful way to bring life to downtown. In Philadelphia, the Mural Arts Program is also credited with increasing sales within the business districts where they are located. How's that for impact! In Great Falls, Montana, the Business Improvement District is paying for supplies for 10 artists to create murals on the dilapidated building and enhance the appearance of downtown. This is a relatively easy idea that harnesses the skills and talent of local artists.

Here are two recent articles on the BIDs efforts:

Temporary murals light up 'blights' in downtown Great Falls [Great Fall Tribune, 7/11/11]
Artists Legally Paint Downtown Eyesore to Create a Masterpiece [www.kfbb.com, 7/11/11]

Temporary stores fill vacancies and serve as an incubator for local entreprenuers

After: A home for budding entreprenuers and an
exciting new addition to to the district

It seems pop-up stores continue to gain momentum in neighborhood districts. Between a recent uptick in consumer spending and rumors of a potential loosing of the credit market [see today's WSJ, "Banks Get Back to People in Business"] , these might be the beginning of better times for neighborhood business districts. I recently stumbled across a program offered by the D.C. Office of Planning called the Temporary Urbanism Initiative that is taking advantage of these trends by aggregating multiple local retailers into temporary pop-up spaces. The City has awarded small grants to local commercial district management entities to fund these spaces. On H Street, the 'Temporium' as they call them, houses 17 local designers. In the Shaw district, the pop-up houses 40 designers and artists in a formerly vacant 10,000 sf space. Finding vendors can be a challenge, which is why partnering with local community and artist groups is critical to ensuring a good tenant mix. At the Mount Pleasant Temporium, they have even added events to help draw retail traffic into the 900 sf space that houses 34 vendors. This is a wonderful way for a local commercial district management entity to accomplish multiple goals: fill a vacancy, support local entreprenuerial efforts, and drive retail traffic to their district.



Before: a vacancy in search of a tenant



For more informaiton, The Washington Post recently cited this initiative in an article: "Pop-up gains favor in D.C. with Garment District, Mount Pleasant Temporium", Washington Post, March 6, 2011

The Seeds of Trendy Districts

A colleague just sent me this must read piece in Crain's New York called "Musty Streets Now Hot Strips". These great images tell the story of once seedy districts that have all turned the corner towards 'cool'. Here are some of the elements that helped seed the beginning of these great commercial district turnaround stories...

Food First:
"Fashion follows food,” says Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman's retail leasing and sales division. “These are the [two] that add the sparkle that creates the buzz and excitement.”


Cheap Rent: 
In almost every case, these districts saw a confluence of low rents and landlords willing to make deals. Low rents allow small business owners to take risks they otherwise would be unable to take in other locations. The challenge is often how to maintain affordable rents once the area has become a hot destination.

Proximity to a Cultural Draw:
In more than one case, the proximity to cultural institutions and events helped ensure steady traffic among potential patrons. When entrepreneurs see growing demand for complimentary goods and services, low rent allows them to pounce.

A Growing Residential Population:
A growing residential population is not only a source of customers, but in some cases a source of local entrepreneurs as well.

Merchants Giving Back and Building Loyalty:
A local merchant community that is connected to the local residential community is also a good sign (in one case, local merchants helped put together a fundraiser for a local school). This helps to reinforce customer loyalty and suggests that excellent customer service is an expectation, not an afterthought.


Resources: The CDA Facebook page is a great resource for images of commercial districts from around the nation. Check out the album for Fort Greene, Brooklyn, one of the districts covered in the Crain's article. Consider sharing pics of your own district!

Street Fairs - do they help or hurt neighborhood businesses?

Street fairs are not unique to New York City. But a recent report by the Center for Urban Futures explores how to improve upon New York's venerable street fairs, many of which have become staid, boring and, just like the local mall, exact replicas of one another. The lessons and ideas presented in this report are helpful way beyond the boundaries of New York City. This report is a great read for folks looking for new ideas or new ways to develop interesting, unique street fairs that support local businesses and help develop your commercial district brand more effectively.

In New York, street fairs are an industry that has increasingly become controlled by a few companies, who roll out the same tube sock vendors and crepe vendors over and over again. This report includes interviews with experts who explore ideas, and share best practices, for creating great street fairs. Some of the interviewees mentioned my own pet peeve - the fact that street fairs often turn their back on neighborhood businesses. In fact, many business owners hate street fairs for that reason. The booths typically turn their backs to the businesses, close the streets to traffic, and as a results end up hurting business for the merchants that are there all the time.

A few tips for street fairs to keep in mind:

• Engage local merchants, artists and vendors in a street fair is what gives the fair flavor and authenticity and should be encouraged. Help local businesses drive sales by encouraging them to set up a table and sell on the street along with other vendors.
• Quality matters. Tap local vendors and businesses who offer great quality food and products. Consider starting small and being selective with who participates at first. This is how to ensure your fair is differentiated from others - and how to make sure it grows over time.
• Don't ignore the businesses! Instead of setting up vendors so that they face the street (and therefore their backs to local businesses), set up the vendors so that you have two aisles with the vendors in the middle of the street. This set up helps ensure that foot traffic during the fair also benefits the formal merchants. The picture that accompanies this article shows The Castro Street Fair in San Francisco. Note that the vendors occupy the middle of the street - not the sidewalk side of the street.
• Consider the fair an extension of your brand. Street fairs are also a great way to brand your community. Consider 'Pickle Day' by the New York Food Museum on New York's Lower East Side. This fair plays upon the area's history and heritage as a destination for wonderful pickles. What could be more unique than that?

Here is a link to the report...."New Visions for New York Street Fairs"

Ideas for Harnessing the Artist Entrepreneurs in Your District

When properly cultivated, artists can be a powerful force for economic development. Many communities have found ways to help artists find venues for selling their goods directly to shoppers while simultaneously enlivening their commercial districts with energy and activity.

I’m currently working in a community where there are lots of artists living and creating art, but very few places for these same artists to sell their goods directly to consumers. Meanwhile, vacant stores front riddle an otherwise attractive commercial district…could this be a marriage made in heaven? Can these storefronts be temporarily occupied by pop-up retail stores that allow artists to sell their goods?

Here is a round-up of resources and ideas from other communities that have found ways to marry artists and econoimc activity, while simultaneously reviving their commercial districts.

One caveat that perhaps should go without say – don’t try this at home if you don’t have a genuine artist community to work with!

Tacoma, WA: “Artists to Use Vacant Retail Space in Tacoma”

New Haven, CT: “New Haven’s Department of Cultural Affairs Announces Storefront for Artists Pilot Program”

Chicago, IL: “Trading commerce for art: In the face of retail vacancies, Pop-Up Art Loop creates temporary galleries”

St. John, Virgin Islands: “Entrepreneur Series: Creative Collective”
This article discusses different models for how artists can set up cooperatives to pay for operating costs for retail space, including basic cost sharing, consignment or membership fees.

Brooklyn, NY: “Artists and Fleas”
This market, based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is called “Artists & Fleas”, and has been wildly successful. Open only on the weekends, spaces are rented to emerging artists, designers, collectors, and crafters who set up shop and sell directly to customers.

Santa Fe, NY: “International Folk Art Market”
This market has achieved international acclaim and began as a way to provide folk artists an opportunity to generate income and sell their goods where they live.

Ford Directs Grants Towards Arts Groups

Artists are finally getting their due. The Ford Foundation recently announced a $100 million commitment to arts organizations in recognition of how the arts and artists are often economic drivers in the communities where they reside. ("Grants Nurture Arts Space and Housing", New York Times, 04/04/10)

We all know the familiar story: artists and the institutions they serve move into a community bringing excitement and activity. With more people comes more commerce, including restaurants and retail. The cycle of activity often has the unintended affect of displacing the artists who started the effort. To counteract this trend, some of the Ford monies will be dedicated to creating affordable housing for artists. Ford recently granted Minneapolis-based Artspace Projects $1 million for an East Harlem-based project.

The story of many successful commercial districts often starts with artists who take the bones of struggling urban neighborhood, take advantage of affordable studio spaces and housing, and create a community. It's good to see an organization like Ford making sure that the artists themselves benefit from the economic activity they create.