With 6200 residents and 100,000 people in the work force coming downtown everyday, what sets our downtown apart from most major cities (and perhaps will make it great) is that it is essentially unchained and unboxed and LOCALITY RULES. This gives Columbus’ 43215 DOWNTOWN a very special character. With millions coming to our city’s center each year on Business and Pleasure, or to partake in Charity Race Events, to hear Free Concerts, be enthralled by Red White and Boom!, to be part of all manner of Festivals and Parades, or to see world class, regional or off-beat Theatre, or enjoy the artistry of BalletMet or Columbus Dance Theatre, or to rejoice in the magic of the music played by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra of ProMusica – DOWNTOWN IS THE PLACE TO BE. It can be said that it is the heart of the finest neighborhoods around including the Short North, the Arena District, German Village and the Discovery District and of course, it is OHIO’s Capital! This is why PUFFIN FOUNDATION WEST was so pleased to give a grant to CAPITAL CROSSROADS SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT’S CAP-UP Program. Twelve vetted artists will fill mainly vacant storefront windows with vivid non-commercial displays that will entertain, provoke thought and showcase our city’s talent. National Endowment of the Arts Chairman, Rocco Landesman, (who incidentally loves CMH) calls this “creative placemaking”. We are certain that this project will help define downtown Columbus as a hospitable place for creative expression and entrepreneurship.
