OpenIDEO - How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline? - Inspiration

The Challenge

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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?

Inspiration 894 inspirations

Concepting 329 concepts

Applause 329 final concepts

Refinement 20 final concepts

Evaluation 20 final concepts

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Mission #1

Explore Vibrancy

Share your definition of what vibrancy looks like where you live. Find out more...

Mission #2

Share Stories

Tell us about the cities and communities you know are currently struggling or in the process of revitalising.

Mission #3

Get Active

Take some time to get active and explore your own community – then report back what you learned. Find out more...

Mission #4

Collect Insights

Interview someone living in a struggling city or region to learn more. Find out more...

Mission #5

Surprise Us

Got an Inspiration that doesn't fit the other Missions? Find out more...

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Mission #1 Explore Vibrancy Find out more...

Draw people in with experiential art

Art can be inspiring, curious, outlandish, and downright confusing. But it makes for adventure, good conversation, and a reason to get out and explore a town.

Several cities have had great success with outdoor art installations. Art Prize is a competition in Grand Rapids, MI with art exhibits that take over the entire city. For a town of 200k, this year's competition drew in over 500k visitors - a number more than double the city's size!

http://www.artprize.org/

Providence, RI has undergone an arts renaissance (with some possible mob help, but that's for another inspiration). Water Fire is a multi-sensory experience with food, music, and 100 bonfires along a canal in downtown Providence. Visitors make an evening of the event - going to a restaurant or bar and spend an hour or more wandering along the canal and taking in the experience.

http://www.waterfire.org

What other examples have you seen? How might we translate these visits into a desire to spend more time in depressed economic areas? How can art inspire businesses to invest and take root in these cities?

Mission #1 Explore Vibrancy Find out more...

Comments

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Alessia Bellon

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December 01, 2011, 10:36PM

Thanks Michelle, your inspiration made me remind this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/world/asia/26japan.html

it's such an amazing idea about how to revitalize an old Japanese village by "painting" a field with several variety and colors of rice. The "growing-organic" painting brought to the village twice over the number of the in resident population.

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Michelle 's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Michelle

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December 02, 2011, 08:43PM

wow, this is amazing. thanks for sharing!

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Peter A. Mello

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November 12, 2011, 08:48PM

Thanks for including WaterFire! Love Grand Rapids' Art Prize too!

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Carolyn Chmielewski

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November 10, 2011, 01:17PM

Had the same thought! Just shared an inspiration about Waterfire as well. It has really been such an important part of the revitalization project for Providence.

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Meena Kadri

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November 08, 2011, 08:47PM

Nice one Michelle! Great to have you & other students from Michigan joining us on this challenge.

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Michelle 's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Michelle

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November 08, 2011, 09:00PM

Thanks, we're really excited to launch this challenge (with a brainstorm!) on campus tomorrow

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Rens 's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Rens

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November 09, 2011, 01:55PM

great idea!

In addition to that one could also think of other big annual events such as music festivals and christmas markets(in germany) that attract lots of attention.

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Rens 's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Rens

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November 09, 2011, 01:56PM

oops should have been a comment instead of a reply :S

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Russell Jelinek

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November 08, 2011, 11:28PM

Artprize is an incredible event! The way it exploded and evolved in such a short time was fun to watch

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Katie Clark

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November 08, 2011, 08:24PM

I LOVE THIS!!!

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Sarah Fathallah's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Sarah Fathallah

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November 08, 2011, 10:19PM

I have to agree! Very impressive stats too.

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Vincent Cheng

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November 08, 2011, 09:16PM

Yes, public art is great for community vibrancy!

Impressive stat about Grand Rapids, MI.

Love the Providence example. Went to college there (longest time I've resided in one place), and Water Fire definitely created a shared communal experience.

Also reminds me about Miami's Design District, where all the stores collaborate together to hold public "Gallery Walk" & "Art Night" events with art, music, food, & wine all readily available.

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Michelle 's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Michelle

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November 08, 2011, 09:33PM

Vincent, also went to Brown...we've crossed paths before :)

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Alessia Bellon's comment

Vincent Cheng

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November 08, 2011, 10:06PM

Small World! At Brown (wouldn't be surprising considering your concentrations), in NY (just realized we both have a common acquaintance there from your work this summer), or both?

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Danielle Barnes

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November 08, 2011, 09:53PM

Another Example:
New Orleans' Prospect One

Here's their mission: "Conceived in the tradition of the great international biennials, such as the Venice Biennale and the Bienal de São Paulo, Prospect New Orleans showcases new artistic practices from around the world in settings that are both historic and culturally exceptional, and contributes to the cultural economy of New Orleans and the Louisiana Gulf region by spurring cultural tourism and bringing international attention to the area’s vibrant visual arts community."

Check it out: http://www.prospectneworleans.org/history-mission/

And yay for the arts! I posted an inspiration about them too :)

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