LISC Boston Prepares to Fund Creative Placemaking in Mattapan

Mattapan Cultural Arts Development

Live Arts l Creative Placemaking l Arts Advocacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   G. Sierra Khan

                 857.333.3513

LISC Boston Prepares to Fund Creative Placemaking in Mattapan

LISC Boston has been selected to receive sixty-thousand dollars to support creative placemaking projects coordinated through Mattapan Cultural Arts Development (MCAD)--a network of artists and arts organizations invested in making Mattapan a cultural destination.  The grant goes to support the implementation of projects derived from community engagement processes prior to August 2016.

LISC Creative Placemaking requested proposals from LISC field offices that are integrating arts and culture into their comprehensive community development work.  

LISC Creative Placemaking was launched with major funding from The Kresge Foundation “to provide space for creativity and culture to flourish in disinvested neighborhoods” like Mattapan (http://www.lisc.org/our-initiatives/economic-development/creative-placemaking/).   

Lynne McCormack, Director LISC Creative Placemaking said, “our creative placemaking initiative supports residents and artists who use art to further equitable development.”

LISC Boston's Resilient Communities/Resilient Families initiative (RC/RF) has been a driving force behind community-based efforts to revitalize Roxbury, Codman Square, and Mattapan.  Mattapan United (MU), it's RC/RC initiative in Mattapan has made community assemblies its principal organizing activity for the past five years or more.  

As an MU "champion," MCAD presents creative placemaking workshops, promotes public art installations, and advocates for artist housing and cultural spaces where Mattapan-based arts programming and cultural activities can take place.

Ines Palmarin, Senior Program Officer for LISC Boston's RC/RF initiative said, "This is an opportunity for us to strengthen Mattapan's artist-community, to build community, and begin telling stories that celebrate the cultural diversity of Mattapan."  

MCAD appreciates the confidence in our network artists and arts organizations, and looks forward to the shared work ahead.