The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York State Council on the Arts today announced that 112 submissions were received in response to the Invitation to Cultural Institutions by the September 15th deadline. The ICI was released on June 30th in an effort to solicit information from cultural organizations interested in becoming part of or creating facilities and programs on the future World Trade Center site. Submissions came from a wide range of cultural disciplines and organizations, both large and small, including cultural institutions interested in creating an interpretive museum of the events of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.
LMDC Chairman John C. Whitehead said, "We are delighted by the large number of cultural institutions interested in becoming an integral part of the World Trade Center site. Cultural activities will be an important ingredient in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan."
LMDC President Kevin M. Rampe said, “Lower Manhattan is already home to some of New York’s foremost educational institutions, museums, and cultural facilities. The responses we have received will ensure that we continue with this precedent during the rebuilding process, and successfully transform Lower Manhattan into a world renowned cultural epicenter.”
LMDC Vice President & Director for Memorial, Cultural & Civic Programs Anita Contini said, “The number of responses we received is testament to the strength and enthusiasm of our City's cultural community. It is clear that cultural organizations will have a profound impact on the redevelopment process. As both a source of enrichment and an economic engine, cultural facilities play a key role in the development of a community."
New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Kate Levin said, “We are grateful to all of the organizations that took the time to help us imagine the cultural future of Lower Manhattan. We now have an extraordinary palette of ideas to work with."
New York State Council on the Arts Chairman Richard Schwartz added,
“This is an unprecedented opportunity to think creatively in partnership with New York City's vibrant cultural community.”
The LMDC, in cooperation with the State and City, will develop categories of desired cultural programming for the new World Trade Center Site by evaluating the submissions based on several factors including, how well the institutions addressed the criteria set forth in the ICI as well as programming excellence and financial feasibility. The LMDC will also host a meeting with its eight Advisory Councils to gauge public interest for specific categories of cultural programming.
In January 2004, the LMDC, State and City will use the information gathered during the first review phase to develop categories of cultural programming and a formal selection process for allocating space and possible financial support. The selection process will then be used to identify specific cultural institutions for the more than 600,000 square feet of space allotted for cultural facilities on the new World Trade Center Site.
