Transforming the streets with art

A call promotes urban art projects on asphalt to create more lively and safer public spaces, offering cities the opportunity to involve artists and citizens

Promote a spirit of community

“Over 40 cities have demonstrated the positive influence of the Asphalt Art Initiative, which leveraged creativity to engage citizens and make their public spaces more visible and safer”, explains Michael R. Bloomberg , founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the 180th mayor of New York City. “With this new funding program, we are ready to help cities across Europe foster a new 'community spirit' involving artists and citizens to allow them to renovate the streets of the urban centers where they live”.

Art to improve the quality of roads

Asphalt art projects not only create new dynamic and lively public spaces, but also offer cities the opportunity to work with local artists and associations on activities involving urban networks and infrastructures. The Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded Asphalt Art Initiative addresses the growing number of cities around the world that increasingly view art as an effective and relatively low-cost strategy for improving street quality, with art installations on squares and sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, intersections and other public areas.