The role of artists as gentrifiers may be deeply entrenched in our imaginations, but the reality is not so simple.
Making History While Making Places – Creativity From the Ground Up
(Tom Borrup was kind enough to send this reaction to the recent ArtPlace Creative Placemaking Summit. Tom consults with cities, foundations, and nonprofits integrating the arts, economic development, urban planning, civic engagement, and animation of public space. His book The Creative Community Builders’ Handbook, 2006, profiles communities that have transformed their economic, social, and physical infrastructuresRead More
America’s Top ArtPlaces
ArtPlace has released a report on the “top 12 ArtPlaces” in the country – the neighborhoods or clusters that scored highest on a subset of the funder’s much-discussed vibrancy indicators: number of “indicator” businesses (“eating and drinking places, shops, personal service establishments and other businesses that cater to consumers”), percentage of independently owned businesses, walkability, percentage of workersRead More
The Top 10 Arts Policy Stories of 2012
Each year, Createquity offers a list of the top ten arts policy stories of the past 12 months. You can read the previous editions here: 2009, 2010, and 2011. The list, like the blog, is focused on the United States, but is not oblivious to news from other parts of the world. This year, forRead More
Around the horn: Wayne LaPierre edition
ART AND THE GOVERNMENT The Detroit Institute of the Arts, having convinced residents in three counties to pass a property tax supporting the institution in exchange for free admission, is facing a lawsuit on the basis that the deal doesn’t include special exhibits. MUSICAL CHAIRS Richard Dare, the head of the Brooklyn Philharmonic (previously profiled here onRead More
Our View of Creative Placemaking, Two Years In
The NEA opens up about its process for defining and evaluating creative placemaking projects and initiatives, positing that almost any successful creative placemaking project would make a difference to its community in at least one of four ways: strengthening the infrastructure that supports artists and arts organizations; increasing community attachment; improving quality of life; and/or driving local economies.
Around the horn: cease fire edition
ART AND THE GOVERNMENT “Kansas arts agencies have been on hold several months, waiting for a clue as to how state dollars allocated by the 2012 Legislature might translate into an economic boon to arts programs.” The recent public arts funding update had some grim news from the UK. Here’s one possible reason: an annual studyRead More
Fuzzy Concepts, Proxy Data: Why Indicators Won’t Track Creative Placemaking Success
One of creative placemaking’s original champions explains why she can’t get behind the field’s latest measurement efforts.
Around the horn: Frankenstorm edition
ART AND THE GOVERNMENT Two bills under consideration by Congress would adjust the music licensing rates paid by internet streaming radio services like Rdio, MOG, and Spotify to match what cable and satellite providers pay. IN THE FIELD Artists often neglect to realize that crowdfunding campaign money isn’t free – in addition to the fees youRead More
Around the horn: poolside edition
ART AND THE GOVERNMENT Americans for the Arts hosted a blog salon last month on the Common Core State Standards (“the next big thing in education”) and what they mean for arts education. I particularly enjoyed former colleague Richard Kessler’s “Steal This Blog” entry. Quite interesting analysis from Barry Hessenius of possible future directions for local arts agencies.Read More