Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ‘CMAP Amphitheater and Community Green Space’ project in Detroit

$25,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

 

LANSING, Mich. – A public performing arts space and community green space with ADA accessibility will be completed in Detroit’s West Campau/Banglatown/East Davison neighborhood. This effort will be made possible through a new crowdfunding campaign the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and nonprofit Carrie Morris Arts Production (CMAP) announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $25,000 by July 26, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/cmaptwo.

“Public arts programming creates accessible gathering spaces for all to enjoy and brings culture and creativity to our communities,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to support and provide resources for this project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.

CMAP is local arts nonprofit that for years has offered free outdoor puppetry and performing arts events in Detroit’s West Campau/Banglatown/East Davison neighborhood. The organization has continued to expand upon its outdoor performance and public gathering space by adding a tiered amphitheater but wants to make this space fully accessible to all community members. This campaign will complete that effort with the installation of an ADA-certified pathway that provides access for patrons of all abilities across the entire site, eight multi-language signage panels, solar lighting, and raised garden beds.

The funding from this campaign will build out a 1.3-acre community green space for puppetry and performance to be more accessible to patrons of all abilities. This will support the implementation of landscaping elements that were created through a community-centered collaborative design process, ensuring that this space reflects the community it is created to serve.

“Support from MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places goes beyond supporting the installation of ADA accessible infrastructure across our public green space, which in itself is huge. But it also reinforces the value of the engagement work we are doing within our community, and how important that work is – not only for us as an organization, but for our health as a neighborhood and as a city as we emerge from the past 15 months into dynamic outdoor spaces that are more important than ever,” said CMAP Executive Director Carrie Morris. “We are so excited about this opportunity to take our outdoor space to the next level, and to continue serving the residents of Detroit’s Campau/Banglatown/East Davison neighborhood.”

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer in building community wealth in ways that build on existing assets and enhance the human experience for everyone,” said Dan Gilmartin, League’s CEO and Executive Director. “This is public performing arts space and community green space in Detroit’s Campau/Banglatown/East Davison neighborhood is community wealth building in action. With the support of the Detroit community, this project will improve the human experience for all for years to come. That is what community wealth building is about.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of May 31, 2021, MEDC has provided more than $8.5 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 275 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $9.9 million raised from 48,007 individual donors.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.