Rocco Landesman, National Endowment for the Arts Chairman, to Participate in Free Roundtable Discussion on “Creative Placemaking”

MINNEAPOLIS—Hennepin Theatre Trust and the Library Foundation of Hennepin County will co-host a Roundtable Discussion on “Creative Placemaking:” Challenges and Opportunities in 2011” with National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman from 1:30-3 p.m., on Friday, September 9, 2011. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Minneapolis Central Library in Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis.

The prestigious panel will also comprise Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Sarah Harris, Chief Operating Officer of the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District and Tom Borrup, Principal of Creative Community Builders. The discussion will be moderated by Tom Fisher, Professor of Architecture and Dean of the College of Design at the University of Minnesota.

The NEA recently awarded 51 “Our Town” grants nationwide which focus on “Creative Placemaking,” a process and initiative that encourages partners from both the public and private sectors to come together to strategically shape the social, physical and economic character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around arts and cultural activities. Hennepin Theatre Trust received an “Our Town” grant to lead the planning process to re- invent Hennepin Avenue. Partners including the Walker Art Center, Artspace and the City of Minneapolis will collaboratively develop an arts-inspired cultural corridor stretching from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres and the Mississippi Riverfront.

NEA Chairman Landesman commented, “Communities across our country are using smart design and leveraging the arts to enhance quality of life and promote their distinct identities. I look forward to seeing how Hennepin Theatre Trust will engage neighborhood groups, arts organizations, institutions and the business community to transform Hennepin Avenue into a cultural corridor for the city of Minneapolis.”

“I strongly support this initiative, because a Hennepin Avenue that thrives year-round is important to everyone who lives, works and plays in Minneapolis,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “When Hennepin directly connects our vital riverfront to our cultural heart, downtown Minneapolis will become an even stronger economic engine and cultural destination for our entire region and state.”