The central goal of ARTblocks is to help Baltimore communities produce a comprehensive plan–unique to them–for transforming their neighborhood spaces into beautiful, vibrant and livable places. The plan is devised by community members and stakeholders in workshops led by ARTblocks. It’s a relatively quick and easy process, and the results are pretty impressive: a safer, more joyful, and connected community — and one that looks really cool too!

Transforming neighborhoods, artfully.

Our grassroots efforts have legs! Suddenly, people connect with their community and the City connects more with the neighborhood. If you’ve driven by a previously dangerous intersection to discover sculptures and parks where vacant space used to be, lights suddenly synchronized to make crossing safer, pedestrian crossings artfully marked—even festivals and gatherings popping up in spaces once thought of as too dangerous—it’s likely you’ve glimpsed our work.

Effect: Immeasurable pride. Measurable results.

So how does art contribute to safer neighborhoods and communities? Let’s just skip right to the statistics. We’ve helped decrease crime, make public spaces more accessible to the people, and cut incidences of pedestrian accidents. Not to mention, created beautiful places where people want to be! Public space improvements can catalyze private investment and small-scale entrepreneurial activities, such as public markets. Property values may rise. Best of all, results are more sustainable when citizens are actively involved. Neighbors who once barely knew each other watch out for each other and communicate about what’s going on. Pride begets pride. It’s pretty cool to witness. Want more proof? Take a look at the Project for Public Spaces’ stats.