ArtPlace America announced 97 finalists for its 2014 creative placemaking grants. Eight of the finalists are based in Philadelphia, which the greatest concentration of projects in one city as well as twice as many as any other city. There is also one finalist based in Camden.

“In each of these proposed projects, the arts will play an explicit and intentional role as part of strategies to help shape their communities’ social, physical, and economic futures,” according to the ArtPlace announcement.

Last year, ArtPlace America awarded $1.2 million in grants to FringeArts, the Department of Making + Doing, River Stage at the Waterfront, and Destination Frankford. Each of the individual grants went towards event planning and actual physical improvements to cultural institutions.

The 2014 finalists include:

✓ A project by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation to use arts and culture to help bridge the Vine Street Expressway and connect the two sides of the community.

✓ The creation of an arts and culture corridor along 5th Street in the Hunting Park neighborhood of North Philadelphia by Nueva Esperanza, Inc.

✓ The Asian Arts Initiative‘s ongoing effort to redevelop the Pearl Street alleyway into a cultural space

✓ A multi-day art installation by Design Philadelphia and the Friends of Rail Park designed to highlight the creative communities in Chinatown North and Callowhill

✓ An experimental restaurant by Theresa Rose, called Restaurant X, that brings together diverse communities in two Philadelphia neighborhoods.

✓ An artists-in-residency program by The Village of Arts and Humanities where the artists will collaborate with youth and families from nearby North Central Philadelphia neighborhoods.

✓ A campaign by Taller Puertorriqueno to fund the creation of a Latino cultural center in Philadelphia.

✓ An art installation by Janet Echelman at Dilworth Plaza soon after its completion

(Photo via ArtPlace America.)