Recently, an article covering the past and future developments of the CoSign program was published on the Signs of the Times website. Authored by FASI Executive Director, Wade Swormstedt, the article outlines the impact of the three iterations of CoSign in the Greater Cincinnati area and ultimately what we're aiming to achieve with the national pilot program.
Check out the full article at this link.
National and Local Grants Assure the Next Round of CoSign
On May 20th, ArtPlace America announced awarding a $200,000 grant to the American Sign Museum for our CoSign project. CoSign was among 54 projects chosen from more than 1,200 applications as an ‘exceptional example of creative placemaking.’
CoSign is the brainchild of our own Tod Swormstedt, museum founder, and Eric Avner, Senior Program Manager for Community Development of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. / U.S. Bank Foundation, known more simply as the Haile Foundation. Last year, with funding from the Haile Foundation, they piloted their vision of bringing together artists, fabricators, and small businesses from the Northside community of Cincinnati. Their goal was to educate participants on the value and components of good signage and to actually create new signage for several businesses within the community. The project was a great success, with eleven new signs unveiled on Black Friday. Read about the CoSign pilot project here.
In the months following last year’s project, Avner has presented the CoSign project to audiences across the country. Part of this next round will include developing a toolkit for others to use in implementing similar projects in their own communities.
The ArtPlace funding, along with an additional $150,000 from the Haile foundation will give us the opportunity to expand on last year’s CoSign pilot project. We have already begun bringing together the CoSign team and plan to follow a schedule similar to last year’s pilot for the next round of signs in Northside. The goal will again be to unveil the new signs on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Plans are also in the works for working with another neighborhood – most likely Covington, KY, just across the river.
“This is really exciting news”, said Avner, “it gives our work a national profile, and it will enable the Sign Museum to roll out CoSign two more times (at least) and to create a toolkit to help other communities (locally or nationally) to replicate it.”
Be sure to watch for updates on our website in the months to come.
2013: The year ahead
It’s on to an even more exciting new year!
- Work has begun on the nearly 20,000 square feet of un-renovated space of our new home, known affectionately as ‘the other side.’ This space will allow for future museum expansion. Expanding the museum itself into this additional space will require a substantial fundraising campaign, but we’re on our way!
- We have also started installing a “boneyard” of sorts along Monmouth Street, that will showcase many of our signs-in-waiting. These signs will welcome visitors and lead them to the museum’s entrance!
- Our annual online auction is gearing up, with its big finish April 6th, at the International Sign Association Expo in Las Vegas.
- We’re looking forward to CoSign II, our working title for the next chapter of CoSign, bringing together local stakeholders to learn about and create effective signage for neighborhood business communities.
- And of course we are continuing to grow the museum’s offerings for all to see – including an expanded gift shop where you’ll be sure to find the perfect item to read, wear, or otherwise display.
We are so grateful for our financial, in-kind, and moral supporters. We have you to thank for the museum’s success through the years. We hope we will continue to earn your support in the years to come.