The Delray Beach Cultural Loop is a 30 minute walk that connects the traditional cultural zones of a south Florida town:
railroad track commerce, main street, city hall and the core residential areas of whites and blacks. In the modern south Florida
town, the loop links these historic zones and museums, the art & entertainment area, the civic institutions, and the new
economic extremes of apartments for urban professionals and the distressed houses of recent Caribbean & Latin American
immigrants.
Culture on Loop
The Cultural Loop connects most of the cultural institutions of downtown Delray Beach. These groups show documents, historic
structures and artworks of the historical and contemporary cultures of the Loop. Click on the Link to the Delray Beach Cultural
Alliance page and visit the websites for the organizations.
Delray Beach Historical Society - Museum and archive of the history of Delray Beach
Milagro
Center - Cultural center with significant services to Haitian, Latino and African American children
Old
School Square - Primary artistic venue for Delray Beach with the Cornell Museum, Crest Theater and outdoor Pavilion.
Palm Beach Photographic Centre - Gallery and teaching institution with an international reputation
Pineapple Grove ArtWalk - Producer of temporary artworks and arts events in the Pineapple Grove neighborhood
Pop Culture Museum at Creations - Costumes and props from Hollywood Movies
Spady
Museum/EPOCH - Museum of African-American history in Delray Beach
St. Pauls & St. Matthew
Episcopal - Two churches with artistic programming and active discussions on race relations
Toussaint
L'Ouverture High School - Charter high dedicated to art and social justice
Women in the Visual
Arts - Large membership organization of professional artists with gallery, classes and traveling exhibitions
Why a Cultural Loop Now?
The majority of development energy has been focused on the expansion of economic success along Atlantic Avenue. Yet two
blocks north and south of Atlantic Avenue, life and development is very quiet. Instead of the heavy traffic volumes and new
taller buildings of Atlantic Avenue, these streets have the older energy of the city.
Except for Pineapple Grove Way, very little development or even thinking about development has occurred. These east-west
streets are in danger of becoming the back wall to Atlantic Avenue. The existing Police Station literally has a blank wall
to the neighborhood. Every new site plan turns to the center.
The Cultural Loop could become the informal, welcoming backdoor to civic institutions - a quiet path for the citizens and
visitors of Delray Beach. The north-south streets and their buildings could be designed with pedestrian and bicycles connections
to the loops possible pedestrian and bike focus.
The Cultural Loop could focus attention on the miserable physical condition of SW 2nd Street and SW 5th
Avenue. It could enhance relationships with the Caribbean and Latin American communities. It could create another reason for
the Swinton Avenue and West Settlers historic districts to work together.
But mainly, the Cultural Loop, in the tiniest of geographies, reminds everyone how close we all really are to each other.
Through just one lunch hour, just one morning dog walk or just one evening stroll, anyone can discover a little bit of everyone
who is sharing this place called Delray Beach. The Cultural Loop demonstrates that Delrays "new urbanism" is not an isolated
oasis, but a real place with all attributes of life.
What Actions will be taken regarding the Cultural Loop?
1. Acknowledgment of the Cultural Loop as a vehicle to bring many communities together and to focus on activities that
will physically improve the area and edge streets.
2. Invention and implementation of low cost cultural projects that bring the institutions and people together.
A. During fall 2002 and winter 2003, the Delray Beach Library in sponsoring monthly talks by the Directors of the Loop
Organizations.
B. During the fall and winter, the Delray Beach Cultural Alliance is starting a
public art project tentatively called "Have a Seat in Delray". Artists will create artworks from the chairs of restuarants,
stores and cultural institutions.
3. Pineapple Grove Main Street has applied for a number of grants to bring Rick Lowe to Delray Beach in the Summer
of 2003 to help the Loop organizations and residents invited the physical qualities of the Loop. Click on the
Rick Lowe page to learn more about his work.
