The Detroit Cultural District was honored with the prestigious Partners in Progress Award at the 2024 Bay Urban Visioning Awards on October 9. The award was presented at the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain during the WRLDCTY global forum and Bay Awards Summit, celebrating pioneering urban initiatives that demonstrate visionary collaboration and long-term impact. Winning the inaugural Bay Award for our Cultural Center Guiding Plan is an incredible honor, recognizing the collaborative spirit driving Detroits revitalization, said Susan Mosey, interim executive director of the Detroit Cultural District. This award affirms that our partnership stands among global leaders, demonstrating how public and private entities can unite to shape a future centered on inclusivity, culture, and sustainability.Bilbao Metropoli 30, a public-private association comprising over 140 stakeholders, launched the inaugural edition of The Bay Urban Visioning Awards. These awards aim to recognize and commend international urban projects with the potential to inspire and motivate professionals involved in urban development. Bilbao, the host city, is globally acclaimed for its remarkable ability to reinvent itself, having transformed from an industrial center into a world-renowned cultural metropolis. The Partners in Progress award aims to find projects from around the world that have developed public-private collaboration initiatives that substantially improve the competitiveness and well-being of their citizens. The Bay Awards received more than 130 international project entries, representing all five continents. The jury members carefully selected 15 initiatives and projects that have shaped a long-term, sustainable, and collaborative vision for their urban environments. The other two finalists in this category included:PazosPeace and Opportunities Strategy Colombia | Valle del CaucaPalmiraRamallahs Active Aging Initiatives Palestine | RamallahThe award-winning project, the Cultural Center Planning Initiative, exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration. The initiative brings together 12 leading cultural institutions, local government, academia, and private partners to reimagine Detroits 83-acre Cultural Center. With a focus on sustainability, public space innovation, and digital connectivity, the CCPI addresses critical challenges such as climate adaptation, social inclusion, and equitable access to technology.(Courtesy Detroit Cultural District)Building on this collaborative momentum, the initiative is designed to actively engage residents from the City of Detroit and outlying counties through community workshops, design presentations, and public events. This commitment to public involvement ensures that all Detroiters play a central role in shaping the districts future.As Anya Sirota, principal of Akoaki and lead architect of the project, reflected: This recognition highlights the CCPI as more than just a collection of designed spacesit represents a governance framework that brought together diverse partners around a shared vision. Collaboration, though complex, was crucial in creating public spaces that reflect the values and aspirations of our community. The CCPIs impact extends through events like DLECTRICITY, Educators Night, and the New Standards Jazz Series, which infuse Detroits Cultural Center with new energy and innovative programming. The launch of the Detroit Cultural District in March 2024 ensures that these efforts will continue to foster regional culture, innovation, and inclusivity.Recognizing Global LeadershipThe award was judged by a distinguished panel of urban thought leaders, including:Christian Basonformer CEO of Danish Design CenterGabriella Gmez-Montfounder and CEO of ExperimentalistaSophie HoweFirst Future Generations Commissioner for WalesGeci Karuri-SebinaAfrican Centre for Cities; associate professor at Wits School of GovernanceBruce Katzcofounder of New Localism Advisors and received the Heinz Award in Public Policy (2006)David Millermanaging director of C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and EconomyCarlos Morenoassociate professor at Paris IAEPanthon Sorbonne; cofounder of ETI Chair; and promoter of 15-Minute CityFarah Nazhead of innovation and ESG in Middle East and AfricaLarry Ng LHformer managing director of World Cities Summit and former prize secretary of the Lee Kuan Yew World City PrizeCarmen Santanaarchitect and partner of ARCHIKUBIK and cofounder of @kubikCharles Landryexpert on creativity and urban changeGreg ClarkGlobal Fellow of Urban Land Institute and former chair of OECD LEED Forum of Cities and RegionsThe jury praised the CCPI for being an ambitious, holistic, and transformational project that showcases what can be achieved when diverse stakeholders unite around a shared vision. It highlighted the initiatives role in reimagining Detroits future by promoting sustainable mobility and shifting away from car-dependent urban models. Its gratifying to receive the award from such a distinguished juryindividuals who are at the forefront of global conversations on urban regeneration, cultural infrastructure, and public space design, said Olivier Philippe, principal of Agence Ter and lead landscape architect of the CCPI. This award is a reminder of the plans enduring relevance and its potential to shape Detroits future as it evolves.Fundraising Efforts for the CCPIThe Cultural Center Planning Initiative was originally incubated under Midtown Detroit, Inc., over the past seven years before transferring to the Detroit Cultural District in March 2024. As the initiative enters its next phase, the Detroit Cultural District is fundraising to redevelop the underground parking deck at Woodward Avenue and Farnsworth Street, owned by the Detroit Institute of Arts. This first capital phase includes the installation of a green roof, aligning with the CCPIs sustainability goals.(Courtesy Detroit Cultural District)To date, the initiative has raised $29.15 million toward the master plan, public wi-fi installation, cultural programming, and parking deck redevelopment. To fully realize this transformative vision, the Detroit Cultural District must raise an additional $18 million to complete the redevelopment of the underground parking deck. This project is critical to supporting the districts infrastructure needs, while the planned green roof installation will further align with the initiatives environmental sustainability goals. Current funders of the CCPI include:State of Michigan AppropriationWilliam Davidson FoundationFred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family FoundationKnight FoundationGilbert Family FoundationHudson Webber FoundationCommunity Foundation for Southeast MichiganRalph C. Wilson, Jr. FoundationThe Kresge FoundationWalters Family FoundationWayne State UniversityNational Endowment for the ArtsMichigan Arts and Culture CouncilFor more information about the Detroit Cultural Center Association and the Cultural Center Planning Initiative, please visit https://www.midtownculturalconnections.com or contact Annmarie Borucki at [emailprotected].About Detroit Cultural DistrictLaunched in 2024, Detroit Cultural District is a nonprofit organization that represents 12 of Detroits arts, cultural, and educational organizations, including The Carr Center, College for Creative Studies, Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Public Library, Hellenic Museum of Michigan, International Institute of Metro Detroit, Michigan Science Center, The Scarab Club, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and The Wright Museum.About The Bay Urban Visioning AwardsThe Bay Urban Visioning Awards, organized by Bilbao Metropoli 30, celebrate global urban projects that address todays most critical challenges and drive long-term transformation. The awards spotlight initiatives that foster collaboration, sustainability, and urban well-being, offering inspiration for cities worldwide.