2018 Space2Place Micro-Grant Winners

Big Sky Economic Development recently announced the winners of their Space2Place Strategic Placemaking micro-grants. Strategic Placemaking involves transforming dull, empty spaces within our community into vibrant, beautiful, interesting places. It is a process for creating places that people want to live, work, play, and learn in.

This micro-grant competition was open to all residents of Yellowstone County. All projects must be completed by September 30, 2018.
Grants were awarded to six exceptional projects which will revitalize six public areas in Yellowstone County. The awards run the gamut from small portions of much larger projects to a larger share of smaller undertakings. They will all be beautiful additions to our community. The grants were awarded to:

• Brooke Moore for “Fractionated Light” – Visible from N 27th St in Downtown Billings, “Fractionated Light” will capture sunlight through transparent, colored acrylic pieces to create an abstract design that will change with the position of the sun. The artwork will cover the south side of the Rockman building (2700 2nd Ave N), bringing a new vibrancy and beauty to this space.

• The Billings Depot for “Wild Women of the West Pocket Park” – This project will develop the lot to the east of the Billings Depot on Montana Ave into a small park. The Wild Women of the West group is collaborating with the Downtown Business Association, VisitBillings, and local merchants to make this area more usable and beautiful.

• Downtown Billings Association/Artwalk for “Sculptures Under Skypoint” – This project with install public artwork at the corner of N Broadway and 2nd Avenue N. Two additional sculptures created by local artists will be unveiled this summer, adding to the public art collection in the heart of Downtown Billings and creating a focal point under Skypoint.

• Share, Create, Reuse, and Promote (SCRaP) for the “SCRaP Art Rail” – Grant funds will be used to install a railing on the front of their building designed so it may display artwork made by local artists to be viewed by the public. This rail installation is part of SCRaP’s larger façade update at their new location.

• Montana Audubon Center for their “Family Nature Area” – As part of a larger project to rehabilitate a portion of their site, grant funds will be used to develop a picnic area, establish a fully accessible trail, and create a welcoming entrance off the Dutcher/Heritage Trail.

• Yellowstone River Parks Association for the “Blue Creek Road River Access Site” – YRPA will use grant funds to clean up a portion of this large site, removing dumped materials, asphalt, concrete, and old homestead buildings. The overall project entails creation of a fishing and river access site across from Riverfront Park.

All six of these projects will be welcome additions to Yellowstone County as they transform underutilized spaces into beautiful, memorable, and engaging places.