Knowledgebase Collection
Creative Placemaking
Graham Coreil-Allen, Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Creative placemaking is a process where community member, artists, arts and culture organizations, community developers, and other stakeholders use arts and cultural strategies to implement community-led change. This approach aims to increase vibrancy, improve economic conditions, and build capacity among residents to take ownership of their communities.
There are varying definitions for creative placemaking related to how different organizations interpret the term. According to Gadwa and Markusen, creative placemaking is when “partners from public, private, non-profit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities.” Several APA publications have provided slightly different versions of the meaning of creative placemaking, including a PAS Memo on creative placemaking which states that “[c]reative placemaking is a new way of engaging creative people and activities to address social and economic issues in communities.” Additionally, PAS Report 590 describes creative placemaking as the use of “arts and cultural activities to rejuvenate public places.”
Successful creative placemaking highlights unique community characteristics. Projects can focus on connecting local history with the present, bringing cultural influences into the spotlight and creating new traditions. It builds connections between people and places by encouraging collaboration and visualization. The length of the project will often shape what is implemented: oftentimes, creative placemaking will activate public spaces or create a short-term opportunity to connect residents around arts and culture.
While the creative placemaking process results in changes to physical spaces, it is also an opportunity to build relationships between diverse partners and to build positive change. A key element in the creative placemaking process is to have stakeholders, including artists, engaged early in the process. This provides opportunities to look at community challenges in an inclusive manner, gathering and deciding on creative placemaking actions based on a variety of community perspectives.
From this page you can search for resources that provide background and policy guidance on creative placemaking. And you can filter these search results by various graphic and demographic characteristics.
APA Resources
Natick Center Creative Placemaking Project
This case study profiles a project to activate public spaces in Natick, Massachusetts.
Arts, Culture & Creativity
This web page presents a series of five briefing papers that explore the role of arts and culture strategies in achieving economic, social, environmental, and community goals. They provide general information, define concepts, and incorporate case studies related to the arts, culture, and community. Areas of focus include community heritage and culture, community character and sense of place, community engagement, and economic vitality.
Creative Placemaking from the Community Up
The session from NPC17 explores creative placemaking that is grounded in values of equity, inclusion, racial justice, and mutual accountability, and that deepens belonging and strengthens civic engagement. Case studies from Newark, Los Angeles, NYC, Tucson, Oakland, and Kentucky (statewide) illustrate creative forms of participatory planning and community engagement.
Creative Placemaking PAS Memo
This PAS Memo offers planners a primer on creative placemaking efforts that use arts and cultural activities to add value to communities and achieve planning goals. It provides definitions, discusses the history of creative placemaking, and provides guidelines for planners who engage in creative placemaking.
Gentrification and the Artistic Dividend: The Role of the Arts in Neighborhood Change
This JAPA article explores the relationship between creative placemaking, gentrification, and displacement. It compares fine arts and commercial arts activity in metropolitan areas with neighborhood variables used to identify gentrification and neighborhood revitalization in 100 metropolitan statistical areas. It finds that fine arts and commercial arts industries are associated with different types of neighborhoods and levels of neighborhood change. It concludes by recommending that planners should consider how different forms of arts-based development impact neighborhoods and stresses the importance of identifying techniques to mitigate displacement of residents and businesses.
Nurturing Creative Places - A Dive into the Arts and Planning Toolkit
This video explores the Arts and Planning Toolkit a menu of creative placemaking strategies shape urban spaces using arts and culture strategies. Arts and culture in urban spaces can create spaces where residents can be healthy, connected, and vibrant. It incorporates case studies and provides additional resources related to integrating arts and culture in planning.
Placemaking on a Budget
This PAS Report offers help for small towns, neighborhoods, and downtowns that need to enhance identity and social connections without spending a lot of money. It discusses how citizens can get involved in identifying the history, culture, and resources that make their community unique. It concludes with project management recommendations to keep placemaking components organized and focused on the community.
Transatlantic Lessons in Transit Expansion and Placemaking
This On Demand recorded panel session discusses how regional transit projects can be opportunities for placemaking, sustainable development, and equitable economic growth. It explores transatlantic case studies and highlights policy innovations applicable to U.S. cities.
Creative Placemaking from the Community Up
This APA Learn course explores various community-driven projects that bolster civic engagament, racial justice, and equitable access with art and culture at the forefront.
Read more
Transformation of Place in Small Cities
This APA Learn course highlights a placemaking program that is building community capacity, revitalizing real estate, and activating place in small cities throughout Massachusetts.
The Art of Public Engagement
This Planning article considers how public engagement can be used as a creative placemaking strategy.
When Arts and Culture Take Center Stage
This Planning article discusses the importance of art and culture in redevelopment initiatives.
The Power of Story
This Planning article highlights storytelling as a creative placemaking strategy.
Putting the Funk in Functional
This Planning article explores how residents of Houston use creative placemaking to make their neighborhoods more interesting places to live.
A New Planning Partnership Brings Art to Public Spaces
This blog post discusses efforts by Forecast Public Art and the APA to increase knowledge of how to use public art in planning practice.
Catalyzing Livable Communities with Cultural Planning
This blog post highlights the importance of cultural planning and shares links to examples of cultural plans.
Public Art and Public Health Come Together in Minnesota
This blog post discusses how five Minnesota cities have used public art interventions to try to improve the physical health of citizens, economic prosperity, community well-being, social cohesion, livability, and a healthy environment.
Planning for Music Can Help Transform American Cities
This Planning article considers how music has impacted the development of cities and shares 7 strategies for a strong music scene.
No Place Like It
This Planning article describes the importance of arts and culture on planning New Orleans.
Measuring Outcomes of Creative Placemaking
Measuring outcomes is a challenge that has been identified by creative placemaking practitioners. Creative placemaking strategies can have a wide range of spatial and social impacts, which can have different impacts on different communities. In some instances, there is a need to be able to compare the impact of creative placemaking strategies on a wide scale, however, a standard approach to evaluating projects may not be appropriate to document the unique impacts of creative placemaking initiatives.
Creative Placemaking and Equity
Creative placemaking can be used as an approach to economic development and community revitalization, processes which require safeguards to prevent displacement of current businesses and residents. Communities that have successfully increased community vibrancy can experience an increased demand from residents outside of the community, leading to gentrification.
Additionally, it is important to understand who will benefit from the creative placemaking process. In changing communities, getting input from current residents can help ground creative placemaking projects on issues that have long term impacts on the community.
Creative placemaking can use community engagement strategies to encourage participation of a variety of community residents. The process of creative placemaking brings together facilitators (like artists) and community members to address community issues using arts and culture. This approach can help identify community-based solutions and build capacity among residents to implement them.
Creative Placemaking and Community Goals
Because creative placemaking easily lends itself to collaborative action, it can be used to meet a wide range of community goals. Communities facing a variety of challenges (e.g., vacant properties, environmental degradation, or declining economic conditions) have worked with artists to identify solutions like allowing temporary uses for arts and culture, water use demonstrations, and skill development opportunities for community members. Applying creative placemaking strategies to address existing community challenges can spark interest to address longstanding challenges, provide fresh perspectives, and encourage innovative solutions that move communities closer to their vision for a better future.
Background Resources
Best Practices for Creative Placemaking
This article identifies ten best practices to support creative placemaking projects.
Breaking Down Creative Placemaking
This fact sheet delves into the definition and components of creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking White Paper (NEA)
This report discusses the social and economic benefits of creative placemaking and provides guidance to support successful placemaking initiatives.
Creative Placemaking: How to Do It Well
This article focuses on strategies to engage in quality creative placemaking initiatives.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Creative Placemaking
This blog post explores the history of creative placemaking and the opportunities it presents for the future.
Fundamentals of Arts Management
A chapter of this book, titled “Creative Placemaking: Arts and Culture as a Partner in Community Revitalization”, focuses on key principles, best practices, and challenges related to creative placemaking.
How to Do Creative Placemaking
This guide focuses on how art can play a role in community development.
What is “Creative Placemaking”?
This factsheet introduces creative placemaking concepts and provides short articles that define the use of arts and culture in community spaces.
Articles
A Vibrant Transformation: Cities and States Take Creative Placemaking to New Heights
This article identifies creative placemaking as a strategy to activate communities.
Arts and Culture in Detroit: Central to Our Past and Our Future
This article discusses how Detroit has supported the city's cultural ecology, including the use of creative placemaking to create more vibrant places.
Arts for the City: Community Arts and Affordability Innovations in San Francisco
This article explores public and private partnerships in San Francisco that promote creative placemaking and equitable urban development.
Assessing a Set of Indicators for Creative Placemaking: Reflections from the Field
This article explores the challenges related to identifying effective indicators for creative placemaking projects.
Best Practices for Creative Placemaking
This article identifies ten best practices to support creative placemaking projects.
Collaborative, Creative Placemaking: Good Public Art Depends on Good Public Spaces
This article discusses the importance of collaboration when creating interactive public spaces.
Reports
A Place for Placemaking in San Diego
This report provides examples of creative placemaking and recommends approaches to support community-led creative placemaking efforts.
Advancing One Water Through Arts and Culture: A Blueprint for Action
This report highlights how approaching water issues through arts and culture strategies can generate solutions and activate communities.
Arts, Culture and Community Outcomes
This report explores how creative placemaking contributes to community development.
Arts, Culture and Transportation: A Creative Placemaking Field Scan
This report identifies how arts and culture can impact transportation planning.
Bridging Policy and Placemaking to Activate Vacant Properties: Exploring Barriers and Potential in Minneapolis
This report focuses on creative placemaking projects and opportunities to activate vacant properties in Minneapolis using arts and culture strategies.
Bridging Policy and Placemaking to Activate Vacant Properties: Exploring Barriers and Potential in St. Paul
This report focuses on creative placemaking projects and opportunities to activate vacant properties in St. Paul using arts and culture strategies.
Guides
Arts and Culture Planning: A Toolkit for Communities
This guide explores methods for successful arts and culture planning in local communities.
Field Guide for Creative Placemaking and Parks
This guide explores how creative placemaking encourages parks and open spaces that serve communities.
Guide for Business Districts to Work with Local Artists
This guide provides resources for engaging with artists during creative placemaking projects.
How to Do Creative Placemaking
This guide focuses on how art can play a role in community development.
Made with Love: Recipes for Community Change
This guide provides step by step guidance for creative placemaking projects, highlighting partnerships, materials, and advice from organizers.
Orange County, FL, Public Art Program Guidelines
This guide discusses a public art fund available to assist artists in Orange County, Florida, who engage in creative placemaking.
Fact Sheets
Breaking Down Creative Placemaking
This fact sheet delves into the definition and components of creative placemaking.
Implementing Creative Placemaking in Real Estate
This factsheet focuses on the relationship between creative placemaking and real estate.
Principles of Creative Placemaking
This fact sheet highlights tenets of successful creative placemaking.
What is “Creative Placemaking”?
This factsheet introduces creative placemaking concepts and provides short articles that define the use of arts and culture in community spaces.
Blog Posts
Agenda Spotlight: Creative Placemaking
This blog post focuses on how creative placemaking can develop active public places by incorporating public art.
Arts as Proven Economic Driver in Placemaking
This blog post provides multiple examples of how creative placemaking can contribute to economic growth.
Can Creative Placemaking Be Used as a Tool to Build Community Resilience?
This blog post highlights the role of creative placemaking in encouraging climate and cultural resilience.
Creative Communities and Arts-Based Placemaking
This blog post discusses how arts-based placemaking can benefit communities.
Creative Place Making: Turning Urban Open Space into a Cultural Asset
This blog post summarizes key points from a panel conversation focused on urban open spaces and creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking Has an Outcomes Problem
This blog post proposes that there are gaps in measuring outcomes related to creative placemaking projects.
Comprehensive Plans
ARC, GA, The Atlanta Region’s Plan
This comprehensive plan belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities, Autonomous Vehicles, Built Environment and Health, Creative Placemaking, and Environmentally Sensitive Areas collections.
Austin, TX, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan
This comprehensive plan belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities, Built Environment and Health, Creative Placemaking, Community Visioning, Comprehensive Planning, Food Systems, Housing an Aging Population, Social Service Uses, and Solar Energy collections.
Boston, MA, MetroFuture: Making a Greater Boston Region
The region's comprehensive plan includes a goal to increase connections between arts and cultural resources and people in the Boston region.
Cleveland, OH, Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan
The city's comprehensive plan includes an arts and culture chapter that discusses the importance of creative placemaking in improving livability.
Nashville, TN, Nashville Next Comprehensive Plan
This comprehensive plan belongs to the Built Environment and Health, Creative Placemaking, and Residential Infill Development collections.
Raleigh, NC, 2030 Comprehensive Plan
This comprehensive plan belongs to the Built Environment and Health, Capital Improvements Programming, Community Visioning, Comprehensive Planning, Creative Placemaking, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Neighborhood Planning, and Outdoor Lighting collections.
Functional Plans and SUbarea Plans
Austin, TX, Create Austin Cultural Master Plan
This functional plan recognizes the importance of supporting artistic and cultural vibrancy and presents goal related to creative placemaking.
Denver, CO, Imagine 2020: Denver’s Cultural Plan
The city’s functional plan provides strategies to support arts, culture, and creativity and incorporates creative placemaking strategies to encourage community vibrancy.
Detroit, MI, A Placemaking Vision for Downtown Detroit
The city’s downtown plan outlines how placemaking strategies to strengthen public spaces and incorporates creative placemaking to support arts and culture.
Glendale, CA, Arts & Cultural Plan 2013-2018
This functional plan encourages creative placemaking through a series of goals and strategies related to arts and culture.
Bloomington, MN, A Plan for Creative Placemaking in the South Loop
This subarea plan contains background information on the creative placemaking process in Bloomington and a more traditional plan component that highlights how creative placemaking can strengthen the area.
Los Alamos, NM, Creative District Plan
This subarea plan uses creative placemaking to promote place-based community economic development that incorporates arts and culture.
Salt Lake City, UT, Cultural Core Action Plan
This subarea plan highlights the importance of creative placemaking in supporting an active Cultural Core in Salt Lake City.
Statutes
Colorado Creative Districts Statute
Colorado’s revised statutes enable local governments to designate creative districts, which are defined as a hub for cultural facilities, creative industries, or arts-related businesses.
Connecticut Neighborhood Revitalization Zones Statutes
Connecticut’s general code supports arts activities through neighborhood revitalization plans and economic and community development provisions.
Maryland Economic Development Code
Maryland’s economic development code establishes arts and entertainment districts and a special fund for preservation of cultural arts in the state.
New Mexico Arts and Cultural Districts Act
New Mexico’s Arts and Cultural Districts Act supports creative placemaking by enabling state and municipally authorized arts and cultural districts.
South Carolina Libraries, Archives, Museums and Arts Statute
South Carolina’s libraries, archives, museums, and arts statutes enable the arts commission to designate cultural districts that support creative placemaking.
Regulations
Bloomington, MN, Code of Ordinances
This regulation belongs to the Accessory Dwelling Units, Active Transportation, and Creative Placemaking collections.
Cleveland, OH, Code of Ordinances
These regulations belong to the Creative Placemaking, Food Trucks, Urban Agriculture, Urban Livestock, and Wind Energy collections.
Glendale, CA, Municipal Code
The city's municipal code establishes an urban art fund that encourages creative placemaking, establishes a design review process, addresses wireless telecommunications facilities in the public right-of-way.
Madison, WI, Code of Ordinances
This regulation belongs to the Creative Placemaking, Outdoor Lighting, Rethinking Off-Street Parking Requirements, Solar Energy, Urban Agriculture, and Zoning Reform and Code Writing collections.
Saint Paul, MN, Code of Ordinances
The city’s codified ordinances include regulations for a student-housing-related district and uses and residential parking permits.
San Francisco, CA, Muncipal Code
This regulation belongs to the Creative Placemaking, Short-Term Residential Rentals, Small Wireless Facilities and Wireless Facilities in the ROW, and Solar Energy collections.
Online Trainings
Community Development Tools for Creative Placemaking
This collection of videos explores a variety of topics related to creative placemaking and community development.
Creative Placemaking Case Studies for Community Developers
This recording presents examples of how community placemaking can help build equitable communities.
Creative Placemaking Ohio
This online training discusses a creative placemaking initiative in Ohio, featuring perspectives from a variety of community stakeholders, including planners, community developers, and artists.
Creative Placemaking: Connecting Community Development and the Arts
This collection of videos discusses various elements of successful creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking: More than Murals
This online training reviews the connection between community resiliency and creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking: Working Through Conflicting Priorities
This online training explores how creative placemaking and resilience projects can address pressing community needs.
Web Pages
Art in Transit Program (BART)
This web page describes the efforts in the Bay Area to incorporate creative placemaking in the transit system through a request for qualifications process.
ArtPlace America
This website explores the relationship between creative placemaking, community planning, and development.
Asian Arts Initiative
This web page provides various examples of creative placemaking through the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia.
Creative Placemaking (Artscape)
This website highlights the benefits of creative placemaking and identifies different strategies that can be adapted to best support communities.
Creative Placemaking (LISC)
This web page provides a framework for creative placemaking, including principles, impact, and resources on creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking (NEA)
This web page introduces concepts and provides resources related to creative placemaking.
Related Collections
Innovation Districts
This collection catalogs resources that provide information about how specific cities are working in partnership to establish and nurture dense clusters of anchor institutions, high-growth employers, startups, and supportive residential and commercial uses.
Tactical Urbanism
This collection catalogs resources that provide background and policy guidance related to or examples of local programs and policies for temporary, low-cost interventions in the built environment.