Oakland Avenue Artist Coalition, Ghana ThinkTank, North End Woodward Community Organization, and Detroit Justice Center, have formed a partnership with Artist think tanks in Morocco, Indonesia and Syria to rebuild this corner through arts and culture into a riad (a central, shared courtyard, filled with art and gardens).
A series of soaring stainless steel sculptures will form the outline of the riad, or courtyard, and local artists will fill it with art. The riad will be a public space for gatherings, workshops, gardening, performances, and the display of local and international art.
To prevent gentrification and displacement, Central Detroit Christian CDC will work with North End Woodward Community Organization to develop the surrounding buildings as affordable housing, guaranteed in perpetuity through the legal and financial protections of a community land trust being developed with Detroit Justice Center.
Marwa Al-Sabouni, a visionary Syrian architect/ TED Fellow/ award-winning author, has joined the American Riad project! Living amidst the civil war and bombardment in her country, Marwa has been rebuilding Syria by decolonizing architecture to create contemporary community-focused housing.
American Riad is thankful for support from Knight Arts Challenge Detroit, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, the Michigan Economic Development Coporation, the Detroit Justice Center, and SUNY Purchase College for their ongoing support of this art and housing justice project.
American Riad was awarded pro-bono legal support from the Detroit Justice Center (DJC) to create Michigan's first community land trust. "The community land trust model is the antithesis of gentrification. Rather than development happening to a community, the community shapes and drives development. - DJC Economic Equity attorney Eric Williams.
In 2017, the Moroccan think tank came to Detroit to advise us on how to convert the site into a Riad, and give classes on wood carving, resulting in the below 15ft wide Mahogany carving with bone inlay which will be installed on the front of an adjacent building. This Arabic character "Iqra" means "to read" or "to learn."
American Riad on TV! Check out Oakland Avenue Artist Coalition member Keviyan Richardson and award-winning broadcast journalist Paula Tutman walking us through the American Riad on WDIV Channel 4 Detroit. You can keep up with other press and updates at @GhanaThinkTank Instagram.
The American Riad has been the site of numerous performances, art workshops, summer camps and a youth employment program. Above is the Astro Mystic Sama Ensemble performing John Coltrane's A Love Supreme as a Sufi dhikr as part of the North End Urban Expressions Art Festival: The Healing.
We are re-building this corner through art & culture, in a multi-year project of skillshares and public art, to create a Moroccan-style Riad (a central, shared courtyard, filled with art and gardens). So far, in addition to Detroit, this has involved related activities in New York, Houston, Massachusetts, Marrakesh, and Yogyakarta. Click the images below to learn more about some of the activities taking place!
The American Riad is being built in the North End of Detroit on historic Oakland Avenue. Stop by to meet the artists, and take part in workshops and public art events! If you post photos please tag #AmericanRiad.
Thanks to our supporters Creative Capital, Kresge, Knight Foundation, MEDC, Detroit Justice Center, SUNY Purchase College, DTE Energy Foundation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the 200+ individuals who have donated to this project!