The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide
The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide is a growing collection of people, organizations, projects, books, ideas and ongoing conversations about cities and the people who shape them. It grows out of the podcast, but extends well beyond it—connecting the people doing the work, the places where it’s happening, and the ideas, experiments and resources worth carrying forward. Think of it as part reference library, part trail of breadcrumbs: a way to follow the conversation wherever it leads.
Explore by type, browse alphabetically or by date, or search for something specific. Follow the tags to discover connections—or explore the map to see where the people, projects and ideas in the Field Guide take us.
Placemaking US
PlacemakingUS is a national network connecting people who care about creating more inclusive, vibrant, and people-centered places. Through gatherings, workshops, peer learning, and collaborative projects, the organization brings together placemakers from across disciplines and communities to share ideas, tools, and experiences. Rather than promoting a single approach to placemaking, PlacemakingUS helps build relationships among the people doing the work—supporting a growing community committed to shaping public spaces with, rather than simply for, the people who use them.
Downtown DC BID
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District works to strengthen the heart of Washington, DC as a vibrant, welcoming, and economically thriving urban center. Its work spans public-space management and activation, economic development, hospitality, events, placemaking, and advocacy, bringing together businesses, property owners, residents, and civic partners to support the continued evolution of downtown.
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.