Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded the City of Minneapolis a $25,000 Asphalt Art Initiative grant to create an artists-driven street design project to improve safety along a busy south Minneapolis corridor.
The asphalt art project will be part of the City’s South-Folwell Safe Routes to School Project, an effort to improve safety for travelers along 21st Avenue South and provide safer routes to school for students attending Folwell Community School, South High School, and Transition Plus School. Goals include making it easier to walk, bike, roll and bus to schools and address traffic safety at high injury street intersections.
The City of Minneapolis is one of 25 cities in North America to receive an Asphalt Art Initiative grant. The Bloomberg initiative supports arts-driven street redesigns to improve safety, revitalize public spaces and engage residents.
The intersections chosen for the asphalt art project include:
- 21st Avenue and 31st Street next to South High School and a YWCA sports complex.
- 21st Avenue and 35th Street between South High School and Folwell Community School.
The City will conduct a call for artist or artist team for the project within the next couple months.
In spring 2024, the artist or artist team will visit schools and collaboratively develop designs for the asphalt art project with students. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in painting the artwork. The mural will be installed for two years.
Learn more about the South-Folwell Safe Routes to School Project.
