Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity
This work is part of Design Sprints, an umbrella initiative; learn more about it here.
Contents 
In Spring 2025, our third Design Sprints cohort will partner with NYC's Department of Small Business Services to activate vacant storefronts.
About
Applications for community partners will be open October 15–November 15, 2024 — check back here for updates!
In Spring 2025, our Design Sprints program will partner with New York City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to explore the intersection between arts programming and economic development, with a focus on areas with high storefront vacancy.
Storefront vacancy is an issue impacting many commercial districts’ quality of life, public realm, and small business engagement. While addressing storefront vacancy requires long-term investment and intervention, immediate services are needed to address the perception of vacancy in the short-term. Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity will provide community-based organizations with capacity building and design support, including project design and strategic planning, to understand and address storefront vacancy in creative ways.
This initiative is supported by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
Info Session
Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacities Info Session
Monday, October 21, 3 pm
Held via Zoom (RSVP link to come)
Join Van Alen Institute and SBS for a virtual info session hosted on Zoom. The session will be recorded and posted here shortly following the event.
Timeline
Oct – Nov 2024
Community Partner Application Period
Van Alen Institute and SBS will accept applications from community partners. Partner qualifications will be posted in the coming weeks.
Dec 2024 – Jan 2025
Teams Formed
Van Alen and SBS will connect selected community partners with design professionals.
Jan – Mar 2025
Cohort 3 Sprint
Teams will collaborate for eight weeks, with facilitation provided by Van Alen and SBS.
Apr 2025
Storefront Activations
Teams will fabricate and realize their projects.
May 2025
Share Out
Teams will present their work at Van Alen Institute.
