In the third-quarter of 2011 grantmaking process, the McKnight Foundation awarded 86 grants amounting to $19,376,000. A total sum of $19.3 was approved, out of which $1 million was awarded to Nonprofit Finance Fund to support ArtPlace. The National Endowment for the Arts and seven federal agencies, along with 11 American leading foundations, initiated Artplace, in order to promote creative placemaking,” which is a model involving people from the public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors. They collaborate together to improve and enhance the physical as well as social aspect of a region, town or city, by promoting art and culture. ArtPlace aims to bring alive structures and street scapes, enhance local business, and connect people with diverse talents.
Robert J. Struyk, McKnight’s board chair, said, “ArtPlace represents a true ‘best of both worlds’ opportunity. By participating in this joint strategic effort to support regional economic development with artists at the center, we have a chance to combine and reinforce the interlocking strengths of two of McKnight’s longstanding program interests.
This quarter, David Crosby joined the board of directors at McKnight Foundation. Crosby has worked at Piper Jaffray & Co. as an investment banker, for 40 years, as head of corporate finance, and as a director and member of the firm’s management committee. He is an alumnus of Yale, having completed his B.A. from there. He also holds an M.B.A from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, and he and his wife Katherine (Kitty) Crosby have three children and eight grandchildren. In the past, he has been associated with the boards at Dunwoody College of Technology, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Lakewood Cemetery, The Minneapolis Foundation, The Blake School, Grinnell College, Children’s Health Center, and The Minnesota Private College Council.
The goal of ArtPlace is to bring forth art and economic development. ArtPlace’s first set of 33 grantees include two in Minnesota. These are Artspace and Irrigate.Artspace was given a grant for its effort in developing artist spaces in various parts of the country. Irrigate is another project that includes more than 100 art projects along the Central Corridor during development of the new light rail line. Irrigate is a collaboration of nonprofit Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the City of St. Paul.
