The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide
The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide is a growing collection of the people, organizations, projects, books and ideas shaping the way we think about cities. It begins with the conversations on the podcast, but extends beyond them—connecting the people doing the work, the places where it’s happening, and the ideas worth carrying forward. Think of it as part reference library, part trail of breadcrumbs: a way to follow the ongoing conversation about cities wherever it leads.
Explore the Field Guide by type, browse alphabetically or by date, or search for something specific. Use the tags to follow connections between people, places, projects, ideas and conversations.
Groundshift Studios
Ground Shift Studio is a Washington, D.C.-based public art and consulting studio working at the intersection of art, transportation, and climate resilience. Founded by artist and urbanist Chelsea Ritter-Soronen, the studio treats the ground beneath our feet—streets, sidewalks, plazas, and other paved surfaces—as both a canvas and a piece of public infrastructure.
Art in the Right of Way
The Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program facilitates art in the public right-of-way which is owned and maintained by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). Examples of AROW projects include various forms of art on public amenities and facilities such as bike racks, utility boxes, and pedestrian areas. AROW projects can be implemented directly by DDOT or by eligible non-DDOT entities via a public space permit.
Color the Curb
Color the Curb is a joint agency project between DDOT, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), and DC Public Schools (DCPS). Color the Curb is a subset of DDOT's Arts in the Right-of-Way (AROW) program, which supports designs that transform intersections into works of art to increase the safety and visibility of pedestrians while adding visual interest to the area.