| Abbreviation | CUP |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1997 |
| Founder | Damon Rich |
| Location |
|
The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York City that works to improve the quality of public participation in urban planning and community design.
CUP was founded in 1997 by the artist and architect Damon Rich with co-founders Oscar Tuazon (artist), Stella Bugbee (graphic designer), Josh Breitbart (media activist), Jason Anderson (architect), AJ Blandford (architectural historian), Sarah Dadush (attorney), Althea Wasow (filmmaker), and Rosten Woo (policy analyst). [1] CUP's current executive director is Pilar Finuccio. Prior to Pilar Finuccio, CUP was led by executive director, Christine Gaspar.
CUP's mission is "to use the power of art and design to increase meaningful civic engagement in partnership with marginalized communities." For example, working with the Street Vendor Project, CUP created the "Vendor Power" fold-out poster informing NYC's street vendors on the law and their rights, as well as goals for changing the system. [2]
During the fall of 2003, at the Storefront for Art and Architecture, CUP organized the exhibition The City Without a Ghetto exploring the history of Urban Renewal in New York City. [3]
In November 2018, CUP partnered with New York's Drawing Center to advocate civic engagement through drawing and design. [4]
CUP received the 2011 Rockefeller CIF award to develop its Public Access Design project. The project aimed to connect graphic designers and distressed communities. [5]
The Smithsonian magazine lauded the center in 2016 for producing educational kits that clarify the intricacies of New York's zoning and systems. CUP received the Smithsonian's National Design Award that year. [6]
In 2017, CUP founder Damon Rich was honored with a $625,000 MacArthur Fellowship "genius" grant, to be used at his discretion over a period of five years. [7]