Mount Washington sees more than a million visitors a year. But most limit their exploration to scenic views from Grandview Avenue, then turn around and ride the
Incline right back down to
Station Square.
"We now have something to encourage tourists to take a few extra steps into the community," says Greg Panza with
Mount Washington Community Development Corporation (MWCDC).
MWCDC has launched a weekly Art Marketplace this summer to introduce visitors to the neighborhood's other assets. The Marketplace, which kicked off in May, occurs every weekend until November, from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. So far, the artists have sold in excess of $2,000, says Panza.
Artists and performers--all of whom are from southwestern Pennsylvania, some of whom are from Mount Washington--change on a weekly basis, and are announced on MWCDC's new site
www.vuplus.org.
Vending for the Art Marketplace stretches two blocks along the Shiloh Street business corridor, including a spot at Charles Lewis Memorial Park, which was developed into a sustainable rain garden exhibit by
Burt Hill architects in 2008.
"We're hoping the Art Marketplace demonstrates that our community can support more artistic venues and creative shops," says Panza. "Not only do we have the local demographic, we also have visitors, so the customers change every week."
The Art Marketplace is sponsored by MWCDC and the
Urban Redevelopment Authority's Mainstreets Program. The budget for the entire summer is projected at less than $5,000, says Panza, and in the future, he hopes the Marketplace can sustain itself.
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Caralyn GreenSource: Greg Panza, program manager, Mount Washington Community Development Corporation
Image courtesy Mount Washington Community Development Corporation