06:00, 15 November 2024
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
Art and safety go hand in hand with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art initiative - and it’s so simple, that you’ll wonder why more people aren’t doing it. In celebration of National Philanthropy Day, we sat down with Bloomberg Philanthropies to hear more.
"Asphalt Art is a way of creatively transforming streets to make them more walkable and welcoming,” says David Andersson, who manages the Asphalt Art project at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “It’s done quickly and inexpensively with just an artist's fee and a few gallons of paint."
Just what it says on the (paint) tin, the Asphalt Art initiative involves decorating sections of streets - it’s not a permanent installation, and will eventually fade away, but makes a huge impact.
"Too many city streets were designed to prioritize people driving over people walking, and that can really take the soul out of a city,” says David. “Asphalt Art is a way of creatively transforming streets to make them more walkable and welcoming."
There’s also a huge safety implication when it comes to the initiative. In Times Square, the project saw injuries plummet by 35%, emissions dropped by 40%, and it became a top 10 retail destination. To quote David: “Art helped people see the potential of what the city could be."
With just a few tins of paint, the project is able to transform a previously vehicle-focused world into one that prioritises its citizens. This doesn’t just lead to people using these spaces more but helps to protect them, too.
"Drivers on streets with art tend to be more cautious; it signals an active street, part of a lived neighbourhood, not just a route to speed through. It’s designed for people, not just cars."
In Durham, North Carolina, the percentage of people feeling unsafe at an intersection dropped from 85% to 6% after the art was added, while in Varna, Bulgaria, there was a 75% increase in children playing in a previously barren space after the project.
The 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study found traffic safety improvements across 22 asphalt art projects in the U.S., with a 50% drop in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists and a 27% increase in drivers yielding to pedestrians.
Started by former Mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies is about ensuring that people have the best, highest quality lives possible, and the arts are one of the five main pillars of the organisation.
"When Mike Bloomberg was Mayor of New York City, he and his transportation commissioner saw a missed opportunity on city streets where people were struggling to walk around and feel safe… so they began quick transformations of intersections and streets using art."
Today, the Asphalt Art initiative exists in 90 cities worldwide, and interest grows every day. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies published an Asphalt Art guide, to help even more cities take the initiative and create art installations on their streets.
The grants provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies are enabling more and more communities to add a splash of colour to their environment - and it’s so popular that they have upped the amount they are giving out.
"We quadrupled the grant amounts to let cities go bigger,” David says. “With $25,000 we’ve seen great results, but more funds mean larger, bolder projects with even more community impact."
With these grants, cities are given the chance to employ local artists, and more money means the opportunity to tackle even more street spaces.
Thanks to the new expansion, Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. cities can apply for Asphalt Art grants of up to $100,000 each. It’s a huge chunk of money - but when the project makes people feel safe on their streets, actively lowers the dangers associated with road traffic, and encourages communities to spend more time outside, it’s worth it.
There are no rules when it comes to the art - whether you want to give the reigns entirely over to an artist, or involve local schools and communities, there is complete freedom in your design.
"Some cities host 'chalk drawing days' where people test designs,” David says. “Sometimes it’s a local artist; sometimes it’s students. It’s all about what resonates with each community’s unique needs and style."
Cities with a minimum population of 50,000 in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. are invited to apply by January 31, 2025. Up to ten winning cities will be announced in Spring 2025, with selected projects planned for installation in 2025 and 2026.
To learn more about the project and apply for a grant, visit AsphaltArt.Bloomberg.org.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Road Safety Trust. The Road Safety Trust is an independent UK grant-giving Trust working hard to reduce the numbers of people killed or injured on our roads. Find out more here.
Create. Create is the UK's leading charity empowering lives, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing through the creative arts. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
