Penn Avenue Arts Initiative

Also known as: PAAI and Penn Ave. Arts Initiative'

Background

• http://www.pennavenuearts.org

Community Art Connections

PAAI is receiving proposals for arts-related classes, workshops and experiences with local artists and neighborhood youth and families. Small Grants are made to qualifying proposals throughout the year. To date (Feb 2007), PAAI has granted more than $60,000 in grants to support more then 60 local artists who have engaged nearly 1,000 youth and families in meaningful arts-related projects. For more information contact our Youth Arts Coordinator at 412-728-3080 or email Jamie Vandermolen

Insights

Open on Penn-0

PAAI Mission:

The Penn Avenue Arts Initiative (PAAI) is a joint project of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation and the Friendship Development Associates. PAAI was created as a marketing strategy at the end of 1998. Revitalize the Penn Avenue Corridor, 4800-5500 Penn Avenues, by using the arts to enhance public perception of the district, instill pride in the neighborhood, foster inter and intra community ties, and establish an artist's niche. PAAI has been designed to act as a springboard for attracting and enticing artists to live and work in the neighborhoods along the Penn Avenue Corridor.

PAAI FACTS:

Since 1998 the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative (PAAI) has:

• Assisted 7 artist owners & 35 artist renters make Penn Avenue their home.
• Assisted 6 arts organizations and 17 arts-related businesses with 69 arts-related employees in locating in the District.
• Assisted artists in the rehabilitation108,000 SQ FT of vacant property reducing vacancy rate in the district from 38% to 33%.
• Distributed over $200,000 via PAAI Artist Loan & Grant Fund to renovate 11 facades.
• Leveraged over $6.7 M in private arts-related investment.
• Distributed over $60,000 to over 60 local artists and engaged nearly 1000 local youth and their families in arts projects.
• Hosted over 35 UnBlurred: First Fridays on Penn events bringing thousands of people to Penn Avenue.
• Received numerous awards including “Top 50 Cultural Forces” in Pittsburgh by Pgh Post-Gazette.
• Gained recognition as a national model for arts driven neighborhood revitalization.
• Engaged hundreds of neighborhood volunteers.
• Emailed the A-list weekly to more than 1,400 people.

PAAI CONTACT INFO:

Jeffrey Dorsey, Arts District Manager Penn Ave Arts Initiative Friendship Development Associates 5530 Penn Avenue, 3rd flr Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-441-6147 www.pennavenuearts.org

Supporters:

Anonymous, City Paper, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Hunt Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Pittsburgh City Council, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, RK Mellon, Urban Redevelopment Authority. This year PAAI is also supported by Mainstreets Pittsburgh which is a program of the Urban Redevelopment Authority and is funded in part by the City of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Do you support the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative? Contact us today to find out how you can. 412-441-6147.

Links

• Penn Avenue