Greetings from the Arts & Democracy Project!

On February 13, the Arts & Democracy Project, National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture (NAMAC), and Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) hosted Placemaking & Belonging, a national conference call. In his essay "Creative Placemaking and the Politics of Belonging and Disbelonging," Roberto Bedoya argues that you cannot have a complete conversation about creative placemaking without addressing questions of who belongs now and who will continue to belong as a result of the work. Using this essay as its jumping off point, the call focused on a vision for place-based arts and culture that is built on values of equity, mutual respect, and democracy. Presenters included Gretjen Clausing, PhillyCAM; Roberto Bedoya, Tucson PIMA Arts Council; Robert Gipe, Higher Ground; Anusha Venkataraman, El Puente Greenlight District; and Caron Atlas, Arts & Democracy Project and Naturally Occurring Cultural District Working Group (NOCD-NY).  

Up From the Roots: Economic and Cultural Equity in Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts
Tom Borrup summarized the findings from a series of roundtable discussions convened in several cities across the United States between 2009 and 2011. The roundtables explored "naturally occurring cultural districts" - grassroots, culturally-based efforts that are bringing about significant changes within their diverse communities.   

The Rural Cultural Roundtable Report

The Rural Cultural Roundtable demonstrated the role of place-based culture and creative industries in rural communities. Co-sponsored by Arts & Democracy Project, Center for Rural Strategies, and InCommon, the roundtable took place just prior to the 2011 National Rural Assembly.

Arts & Equitable Development Briefing Call 

Moving from economic crisis to just and sustainable communities requires imaginative thinking and change on virtually every level. 

This 2010 call offered examples of such creative and transformational work including: Higher Ground,

Los Angeles Poverty Department, Housing is a Human Right, 

Laundromat Project, and 

Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC). Listen to a recording of this conversation here. 

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD 

Building Community: Making Space for Art (2011)

How might art spaces be incorporated into comprehensive community planning and revitalization strategies? Maria Rosario Jackson draws on 16 years of urban planning research to answer this question, focusing on the full range of artistic activity that people value, the importance of arts and creative outlets for all people, the roles that artists play in society, and the kinds of art spaces needed for robust cultural vitality.

Developing Artist-Driven Spaces in Marginalized Communities: Reflections and Implications for the Field (2012)

This essay by Maria Rosario Jackson, Urban Institute, distills important issues to consider in the creation of artist-driven spaces, primarily those in marginalized communities.

A pivotal white paper written by Ann Markusen and Anne Gadwa for The Mayors' Institute on City Design, a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and the American Architectural Foundation.

Dr. Mindy Fullilove describes the "root shock" suffered when neighborhoods are physically uprooted. Additional articles about root shock can be found here.

Social Impact of the Arts Project (SIAP)

Based at the University of Pennsylvania, SIAP conducts research on the role of arts and culture in American cities with a particular interest in strategies for arts-based revitalization. Publications include:  From Creative Economy to Creative Society (2008) and Cultural Clusters: The Implications of Cultural Assets Agglomeration for Neighborhood Revitalization (2010) by Mark Stern and Susan Seifert. 

TOOLKITS  

Center for Urban Pedagogy: Envisioning Development Toolkit 

Teaching tools about land use and urban development in New York City, including an interactive income map and affordable housing resources.

PolicyLink: Equitable Development Toolkit 

27 tools to reverse patterns of segregation and disinvestment, prevent displacement, and promote equitable revitalization.

The Creative Community Builder's Handbook: How to Transform Communities Using Local Assets, Art, and Culture