Efforts to rejuvenate the one-time Finance District on East Ninth Street in downtown Cleveland as a lively NineTwelve mixed-use district just received a $100,000 push from the National Endowment for the Arts.

A joint venture led by LAND Studio, a nonprofit devoted to enlivening public spaces in the city, and Ingenuity, the nonprofit that organizes the annual IngenuityFest celebration of creativity in the city, has received one of 66 grants awarded under NEA’s “Our Town” program. The NEA effort supports artistic efforts to aid community redevelopment.

The NEA grant, which must be matched by local grants, sponsorships or donations, will be used to fund a year-long project in 2015 combining public art projects and sustained programming on East Ninth.

Dubbed “Curb Appeal,” the Cleveland application was supported by the nonprofit Downtown Cleveland Alliance, which oversees maintenance and marketing of downtown, and Positively Cleveland, the city’s visitor and convention bureau.

Ann Zoller, executive director of LAND Studio, said in a news release, “This generous support will provide a major catalyst for the project, helping connect public assets through engaging public spaces and continue the renaissance in downtown Cleveland.”

Jane Chu, NEA chairwoman, said in the release, “This joint effort between Land Studio and Ingenuity demonstrates the best in creative community development and will have a valuable impact on its community.”

LAND Studio said Curb Appeal also will rely on support and cooperation from the city of Cleveland for its improvements, which may be temporary or permanent.

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance began efforts to rebrand the Finance District as the NineTwelve District in 2010 to combat the loss of banking, securities and other office tenants on the street populated by multiple mid- and high-rise office buildings.
 

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