Southwest BID
The Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID) serves the area south of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., using public art and creative placemaking as central tools for shaping the neighborhood’s public realm. Through murals, artist collaborations, temporary installations, and other creative interventions, SWBID brings color, storytelling, and a distinct sense of place to streets, sidewalks, and shared spaces throughout Southwest.
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.
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.
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.
Chelsea Ritter-Soronen
Chelsea Ritter-Soronen is a multi-disciplinary visual artist, small business owner and public arts consultant. She is the Founding Principal of Ground Shift Studio, a mural company specializing in pavement art, established in 2013 (originally named Chalk Riot).
Abra Allan
Abra Allan is Cofounder of Big Creative Consulting and Sidewalk Ballet’s unofficial Foreign Correspondent.