Student Design Summit for DIA Plaza and Midtown Cultural Connections project launches Sept. 24 at Detroit Institute of Arts | Competition to run parallel with professional design firms looking at creating a new vision for Cultural District
Updated Aug 24, 2018
August 24, 2018 (Detroit)—Students from around the state of Michigan are invited to imagine the future of Detroit’s cultural district in Midtown at a Student Design Summit that kicks off Sept. 24 at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) at 5:45 p.m. Currently enrolled high school, college and university students will be challenged to come up with ideas on how to help connect the 12 cultural and educational institutions in the district as well as to imagine the role of the DIA and cultural district far into the 21st century. The event is part of the DIA Plaza and Midtown Cultural Connections Competition.
The summit is being led by A. Paul Fontaine of the Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom Initiative at the University of Michigan, in partnership with Wayne State University (WSU), University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and College for Creative Studies (CCS), with the DIA and Midtown Detroit Inc., as sponsors of the program.
"The University of Michigan is proud to be a supportive partner of the DIA and Midtown Inc.'s efforts to make Detroit's arts district a more engaging and connected neighborhood,” said James Holloway, vice provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, University of Michigan. "We are committed to the City's ongoing revitalizations, and our students want to be part of the process."
Following the Sept. 24 kickoff, two additional sessions will be offered to help students understand site issues, stakeholder ideas, needs and visions, as well as to get input from design professionals to help make their project stand out: Oct. 22 at CCS and Nov. 12 at WSU. Times and locations can be found on the Student Design Summit webpage: https://www.midtownculturalconnections.com/student-design-summit/.
“Wayne State is proud to be a design summit partner, as well as an anchor in Detroit’s Cultural District,” said Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson. “Students from all walks of life contribute greatly to the vibrancy of Midtown. We look forward to engaging students from a broad range of schools and disciplines in designing the future of our neighborhood.”
“It’s going to be these students’ district and city in the future,” said Susan Mosey, executive director of Midtown Detroit Inc. “This Design Summit invites the next generation to get invested in its revitalization."
When all three sessions are completed, students, or student teams, will submit a three-minute video along with a board that explains their ideas and introduces team members. Team size, formation and background is up to the students.
"There are no wrong answers - we need all ideas. It could be dance, or a sculpture or a digital application," said Vince Carducci, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the College for Creative Studies.
There will be a Jury and People's Choice Awards, with each winning team or winning individual receiving prize money of $2,500 and the opportunity to share work with important leaders in urban planning, architecture and design. The awards ceremony takes place Jan. 14, 2019 at the DIA, and the winning student ideas will be shared alongside the three finalists’ projects in the professional DIA Plaza Midtown Cultural Connections International Design Competition. The link for registration and design submissions: https://midtowndetroitinc.slideroom.com/
Student Design Summit Sponsors: Detroit Institute of Arts, Midtown Detroit, Inc, Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, College for Creative Studies and University of Michigan.
Student Summit Contact:
A. Paul Fontaine
Program Manager, Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom Initiative
Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning
1024 Hill Street, Ann Arbor 48104
The DIA Plaza Midtown Cultural Connections design competition and planning process is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, William Davidson Foundation, and the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation with support from the Boston Consulting Group Detroit Office led by Xavier Mosquet.
August 24, 2018 (Detroit)—Students from around the state of Michigan are invited to imagine the future of Detroit’s cultural district in Midtown at a Student Design Summit that kicks off Sept. 24 at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) at 5:45 p.m. Currently enrolled high school, college and university students will be challenged to come up with ideas on how to help connect the 12 cultural and educational institutions in the district as well as to imagine the role of the DIA and cultural district far into the 21st century. The event is part of the DIA Plaza and Midtown Cultural Connections Competition.
The summit is being led by A. Paul Fontaine of the Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom Initiative at the University of Michigan, in partnership with Wayne State University (WSU), University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and College for Creative Studies (CCS), with the DIA and Midtown Detroit Inc., as sponsors of the program.
"The University of Michigan is proud to be a supportive partner of the DIA and Midtown Inc.'s efforts to make Detroit's arts district a more engaging and connected neighborhood,” said James Holloway, vice provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, University of Michigan. "We are committed to the City's ongoing revitalizations, and our students want to be part of the process."
Following the Sept. 24 kickoff, two additional sessions will be offered to help students understand site issues, stakeholder ideas, needs and visions, as well as to get input from design professionals to help make their project stand out: Oct. 22 at CCS and Nov. 12 at WSU. Times and locations can be found on the Student Design Summit webpage: https://www.midtownculturalconnections.com/student-design-summit/.
“Wayne State is proud to be a design summit partner, as well as an anchor in Detroit’s Cultural District,” said Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson. “Students from all walks of life contribute greatly to the vibrancy of Midtown. We look forward to engaging students from a broad range of schools and disciplines in designing the future of our neighborhood.”
“It’s going to be these students’ district and city in the future,” said Susan Mosey, executive director of Midtown Detroit Inc. “This Design Summit invites the next generation to get invested in its revitalization."
When all three sessions are completed, students, or student teams, will submit a three-minute video along with a board that explains their ideas and introduces team members. Team size, formation and background is up to the students.
"There are no wrong answers - we need all ideas. It could be dance, or a sculpture or a digital application," said Vince Carducci, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the College for Creative Studies.
There will be a Jury and People's Choice Awards, with each winning team or winning individual receiving prize money of $2,500 and the opportunity to share work with important leaders in urban planning, architecture and design. The awards ceremony takes place Jan. 14, 2019 at the DIA, and the winning student ideas will be shared alongside the three finalists’ projects in the professional DIA Plaza Midtown Cultural Connections International Design Competition. The link for registration and design submissions: https://midtowndetroitinc.slideroom.com/
Student Design Summit Sponsors: Detroit Institute of Arts, Midtown Detroit, Inc, Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, College for Creative Studies and University of Michigan.
Student Summit Contact:
A. Paul Fontaine
Program Manager, Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom Initiative
Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning
1024 Hill Street, Ann Arbor 48104
The DIA Plaza Midtown Cultural Connections design competition and planning process is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, William Davidson Foundation, and the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation with support from the Boston Consulting Group Detroit Office led by Xavier Mosquet.