Creative placemaking in America

The Problem?

American cities, suburbs and small towns confront structural changes and residential uprooting.

The Solution?

Revitalization by creative initiatives that animate places and spark economic development.

The Payoffs?

Gains in livability, diversity, jobs and incomes. Innovative products and services for the cultural industries.

Creative placemaking is a nationally growing topic of interest for both the arts community and community planners.

In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, nonprofit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired.

This white paper, written by Ann Markusen (Markusen Economic Research Services) and Anne Gadwa (Metris Arts Consulting) for The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, summarizes two decades of creative American placemaking, drawing on original economic research and case studies of pathbreaking initiatives in large and small cities, metropolitan to rural, as well as published accounts. The report outlines the components of successful initiatives and the challenges faced by these case studies.

Read the full paper on the National Endowment for the Arts website.

Via: National Endowment for the Arts

---