RALEIGH, NC (September 23, 2016) – The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) is pleased to announce a new initiative driven by a committee of downtown residents, merchants, DRA, and the City of Raleigh to bring new life to public spaces.
Program our Plazas (POP) is a plaza activation program designed to bring vibrancy to the newly renovated Market and Exchange Plazas on Fayetteville Street. POP will serve as an incubator for innovative and entrepreneurial ideas by providing applicants a platform for creativity in a public space. Types of eligible events include, but are not limited to:
- Interactive
- Food/Culinary
- Animals/Nature
- Design
- Science/Innovation/Discovery
- Art/Creative
- Education
- Performance
- Music
- Farming/Agriculture/Gardening
- Non-Profits
- Multimedia
- Makers/Crafts/Demonstrations
- Health/Fitness
- Literature
- Recreation
- Startups
Eligibility is chosen on a case-by-case basis by the oversight committee, with an emphasis on interactive activation. Applicants may be eligible for up to $250 in financial event assistance through the DRA. Grants will also be considered on a case-by-case basis by the oversight committee.
“This program really is a collaboration between a lot of people in the downtown community. We want to give creatives a space where they can come together and have a place to showcase their talents. We feel like the possibilities for programming are endless,” says DRA Director of Events Craig Reed.
Applications for programming and grants are available through the DRA Website. Interested parties can find free applications through the DRA website, and may contact Craig Reed with any questions.
POP will run from October through the end of this year on Wednesdays from 5 pm – 8 pm and Fridays from 11 am – 2 pm as a pilot program. The committee plans to make POP a permanent program in 2017.
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About Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA):
DRA is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue the revitalization of Raleigh’s downtown. The Alliance enhances the quality of life and positively impacts the economic success of downtown through six core services: 1. Safety, Hospitality & Clean Ambassadors; 2. Strategic Branding & Community Communications; 3. Events Production; 4. Retail Attraction & Merchant Promotions; 5. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement; and 6. Strategic Planning. For more information about DRA, please visit www.YouRHere.com.