TEN FEET: Art Meets the River 2016

Central LA

East LA

City of Los Angeles

LAUSD

River adjacent communities of Frog Town, Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Downtown, cyclists, joggers, walkers and other roller visitors from all over the region.

Conduct research

Engage residents and stakeholders

Implement a pilot or new project

Expand a pilot or a program

Advocate with policymakers and leaders

Get more people outdoors on the LA River Greenway to experience the Los Angeles River by foot, by bike, on skateboards or any other way they prefer to have fun. Provide multiple art classes and events in an after school program.

Access to open space and park facilities

Number of children enrolled in afterschool programs

Per capita crime rates

Percentage of residents that feel safe in their neighborhoods

Residents within 1⁄4 mile of a park (Dream Metric)

Number of residents with easy access to a “vibrant” park (Dream Metric)

Number of parks with intergenerational play opportunities (Dream Metric)

Number (and quality) of informal spaces for play (Dream Metric)

The 2015 10 FEET event brings together arts, culture, neighborhood and environmental groups to achieve unique and inspiring play along the river. The event leverages existing facilities like The Women’s Center for Creative Work, the Elysian Valley Arts Collective and Folar’s Frog Spot along with additional locations within the newly purposed 10 feet on the west bank of the LA River to engage visual, sensory and physical relationships with the River. Participants will exercise their bodies and their minds traveling between installations, seeing and sensing interpretations of the natural feature that gave life to the City of Los Angeles.

We envision an expanded event and children’s after school and family programs for 2016. For TEN FEET 2016 we propose to curate 20 individual sites from the Glendale Narrows to the Arroyo Seco. Participating artists and performers will create playful art and culture installations. Our after school program will partner with existing organizations and events to leverage and compliment existing resources.

Our inclusionary curatorial process requires research of the numerous neighborhood, arts and cultural and environmental groups in the River neighborhoods to identify potential exhibitors, venues, participants, contributors and volunteers.

We would like to supplement our exhibit with an after school program for students and families along the river. This will require resources for outreach to schools, community organizations, existing recreation programs at parks and non profits to provide a series of events and programs for students to become involved in arts and culture in their neighborhoods. This program will be focused on the playful qualities of arts and culture.

TEN FEET is the first and only community based initiative to advocate for an arts and culture infrastructure on Los Angeles River projects. We are advocates for the inclusion of arts and culture design and planning for public and private River projects as an essential ingredient to more inspiring, attractive and effective play along the river. The TEN FEET event demonstrates how we can transform the LA River Greenway and parkland into a globally significant and vital urban oasis where people of all ages and interests come to play.

For 2015/6 TEN FEET will be successful if we are able to:

• Secure funding for a curator and administrator to manage events and programs

• Execute an expanded and memorable 2016 TEN FEET event

• Successfully obtain grants and other funding

• Plan and conduct children’s and family after school arts and culture programs to provide healthy and fun activities for kids and families.

• Further engage the Riverfront communities in dialogue regarding the value of arts and culture in their neighborhoods.

Benchmarks

• # of children participating in TEN FEET programs and events

• # of participants in TEN FEET event

Methodology

• On-site surveys and suggestions from participants to evaluate how arts and culture can provide new and unique play experiences on the River.

Money (financial capital)

Volunteers/staff (human capital)

Publicity/awareness (social capital)

Infrastructure (building/space/vehicles, etc.)

Education/training

Technical infrastructure (computers, etc.)

Community outreach

Network/relationship support

Quality improvement research