Chinatown Welcome Gateway — Resources for Artists

Calling artists to envision public art in Chinatown! On May 22, 2025, Think!Chinatown (T!C) hosted an artist info session for NYC Economic Development Corporation’s (NYCEDC) Chinatown Connections: Chinatown Welcome Gateway project. NYCEDC, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), and Marvel Architects shared about the project, selection process, timeline, budget, and answer any questions. T!C then shared contextual information about cultural representation and the history of gateways in Chinatown.

From NYC Economic Development Corporation:

From NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs:

From Think!Chinatown:

Here’s a recording of our May 22nd artist info session!

[0:00-7:21] Think!Chinatown’s Yin Kong introduces the agenda, intentions, and project

[7:22-18:00] NYCEDC’s Gigi Lee speaks on Chinatown Connections project background

[18:01-33:10] NYC DCLA’s David Mandel speaks on the Percent for Art program and artist selection process

[33:11-34:40] Marvel Architects’ Yadiel Rivera-Diaz speaks on Marvel’s involvement and the relationship with the selected artist

[34:41-54:25] Q&A with NYCEDC and DCLA

[54:26-1:09:54] Think!Chinatown’s Yin Kong speaks on the previous failed gateway project, the history of paifang in Chinatowns, cultural representation in the built environment, and shares feedback from community members

[1:09:55-1:27:30] Q&A with Think!Chinatown and Marvel Architects

Think!Chinatown (T!C) is working as a sub-consultant to advise on the community engagement process to Marvel, the architectural design consultant for the NYCEDC's Chinatown Connections project. Specifically, T!C is solely advising Marvel's community engagement process, and not executing it. While T!C is supporting outreach to get the word out about the artist and panelist call, we do not have any input in the selection of the artist. Once the panel has identified its finalist, however, T!C will be available to support the selected artist by providing cultural context of the neighborhood.

Think!Chinatown is here to create space for conversation with artists who wish to engage deeply with the complex context of our neighborhood and the many layers of our communities. We are not for or against any particular design, but we do hope this call process will identify an artist who has expansive thinking about what cultural placekeeping can mean for an iconic neighborhood like Manhattan’s Chinatown —someone who can go beyond the stereotypes and tropes, and think about this opportunity to reflect on Chinatown's place in America's narrative.

 

Want to learn more about NYCEDC’s Chinatown Connections project?

 

Photo courtesy of NYCEDC

In 2024, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) launched Chinatown Connections, the City’s current effort to redesign Kimlau Square and surrounding streets, which includes a plan to add a “Chinatown Welcome Gateway”– a cultural marker intended to represent the Chinatown community. According to EDC, “Chinatown Connections will redesign the gateway to Manhattan’s Chinatown into a safe and vibrant space that celebrates the neighborhood’s Chinese heritage, improves multimodal circulation into and around Chinatown, and supports local businesses.” The plan includes a Street Improvement Project (SIP) along Park Row and at key intersections, led by the Department of Transportation (DOT).