Definitions
Central to the development of our study, it was necessary to devise terms capable of supporting and defining the cultural placemaking concept. The following represents our best effort at accomplishing that task.
The Local Arts are those artistic activities serving a given city, town, or region. They exist within the community as two artistic sectors— the Arts of the Local Economy and the Arts of the Local Culture.
The Arts of the Local Culture are those artistic activities and works dedicated to the service of the local culture. The arts of the local culture are rooted in the civic resources and values of a given city or region. These resources include regional history, local demographics, creative businesses, and the resident arts community. The arts of the local culture are engaged in the work of civilization in the community.
Local Culture: Small cities, towns and urban boroughs naturally produce a local culture. Most local cultures are somehow unique, the product of their specific history, demographics, creative entities and the infinite variability of their inhabitants. A healthy local culture produces an integrated network of organizations, businesses, civic institutions and individual participants who generally share a pattern of beliefs, values, and cultural objectives. The Best Practices in Cultural Placemaking section of this website seeks to identify many of the essential characteristics of a vigorous local culture.
Cultural Placemaking is the nurture and development of the local culture through the collaborative and creative efforts of the resident arts community, innovative businesses, and supportive city governments. Separate in mission, content, and values from the arts of the local economy, cultural placemaking is centered on the creation of integrated networks of civic activities.
The Arts of the Local Economy are those local commercial and non-profit arts enterprises focused on the presentation of popular entertainment and national touring venues. This sector of the local arts is evaluated and funded through their contributions to the local economy.
The Resident Arts Community is a network of arts organizations, resident artists, and creative businesses serving, and dedicated to a local culture. The work of the resident arts community is uniquely capable of supporting such regional enterprises as the interpretation of local history, the development of long-term arts educational programs, and community engagement in local social and community issues.
