This focused study on artists contains two major goals. The first is to examine the relationships between artistic creativity and other domains of creativity, including creativity in entrepreneurship, social interactions, and civic or community engagement. Exploring the interactions and correlations between creative domains will help the Research Lab become familiar with artists’ problem-finding and solving processes, a critical skill with many potential implementations. The second purpose is to examine the relationship between possession of creativity in various domains and translation of that creativity into actionable business practice.
Civic Engagement/Community Development
Rural Prosperity Through the Arts and Creative Sector: A Rural Action Guide for Governors and States
Rural America has a robust cultural history that has enriched the nation and its people. Rural America is also beset with social and economic challenges.
Population migration and persistent poverty are contributing to a widening urban-rural divide in many states. By using the creative sector – specifically, arts and cultural assets – governors have a viable approach for strengthening economic opportunities and vibrancy into rural communities.
Arts and culture have long been part of urban rejuvenation efforts. Now, an expanding body of research and practice showcases positive economic
and quality-of-life outcomes associated with the rural creative sector.
This Rural Action Guide describes in detail the principles of arts-based rural development, including the following:
- Creative sector initiatives are most effective when attuned to the particular creative assets and needs of rural communities.
- Creative sector initiatives work best as part of a cohesive economic development plan in rural areas.
- Creative sector initiatives add value when integrated with additional state and local policies and practices such as workforce development, community development and housing.
This Rural Action Guide features many successful high-profile examples of rural communities and regions that have become more economically
resilient and sustainable through creative sector initiatives.
The examples offer process-oriented steps for consideration by governors and their policy advisors when applying the principles within their states’
policy framework. When implemented, these steps can contribute to positive changes in employment, wages and quality of place in rural areas.
This guide goes beyond simply advocating replication, which would be difficult because of the unique circumstances of individual communities
benefiting from place-based initiatives that foster the creative economy. It also shares process steps, examples and lessons learned from rural successes and the research and field work that have built on
these successes.
Programs Supporting Art in the Public Realm: A National Field Scan
A challenge for artists and funders in this intersectional work is to advance both aesthetic and community aims. How do programs balance community development needs and goals with opportunities for artists to experiment? What kinds of supports are needed to help community partners who are crucial to the impact of the work, fully engage with artists? What services best support artists who are building their capacity for public realm production and community engagement? What funding strategies and practice standards help ensure projects that meet high marks for both aesthetic achievement and community value?
In the spirit of advancing field dialogue, Americans for the Arts and the Barr Foundation are happy to share Programs Supporting Art in the Public Realm: A National Field Scan. The scan, while not intended to be comprehensive, highlights overarching themes and offers snapshots of 28 programs supporting and building capacity for artists to work in the public realm. Detailed summaries from interviews with seven selected programs provide additional insights.
Pittsburgh Artists Working in Community: A Case Study of Aesthetic Perspectives in Action
As Pittsburgh’s Office of Public Art (OPA) supports artists working in the public realm through residencies and cross-sector partnerships, this case study explores how OPA has used Aesthetic Perspectives as: an adaptable evaluation tool, a content-rich guide for artist inquiry and exchange, and an organizational aid to guide selection panels to discuss aesthetic qualities and equity.
Cultivating Creativity: Exploring Arts & Culture in Community Food Systems Transformation
This fusion of cultural and artistic expression with food and agriculture is both a new strategy for some communities and a long held, embedded practice for m any others. To better understand this intersection, and complement the emerging learnings from The Kresge Foundation’s Fresh, Local and Equitable (FreshLo) multi-year support of community-led efforts which fuse artistic and cultural expression with equitable food-oriented neighborhood change, ArtPlace America has engaged DAISA Enterprises in conducting a field scan. DAISA is the National Program Office for FreshLo at the time of this report and adds this perspective and knowledge to this field scan, exploring the relationship between arts and culture and the community development subsector of food and agriculture. The research report seeks to inform current knowledge and practice around how arts and cultural approaches can be better leveraged to create equitable and place-based food system s change across the country – spanning rural, tribal, and urban settings. In more clearly articulating these processes, the field scan will contribute to building the fields of arts and culture and com m unity development, informed by creative placemaking and grounded in the experiences of artists and com m unity change-makers.
Governance Models for Cultural Districts
This report, commissioned by the Global Cultural Districts Network (GCDN), draws on primary research and a literature review to capture good practices, and identifies which stakeholders should be “at the table” for informed and effective decision making and oversight. The research has also revealed the range of business models that underpin these governing entities, reviewing how cultural districts are generating revenue and expending it. The research is intended to be fully international in scope, with useful lessons for GCDN
members and other practitioners around the world.
