Resources by Project Stage

Understanding

One of the most challenging steps in creative placemaking projects is the first one - understanding what creative placemaking is all about, and importantly, how it is different from traditional municipal and community development processes. Artists and culture-bearers bring a unique perspective to the table. That unique perspective is what fuels the creation of innovative ideas, trust building with communities, and a focus on equity. Understanding the strengths of both traditional and non-traditional ways of working can help project partners honor each others’ work and create opportunities for dynamic projects to happen.

FraminG

Once partnerships between municipalities and artists are in place, the next step is to set the groundwork. How can the partners talk about the potential impact of this work? How can they expand the network of people at the table in project decision-making and ensure a broad base of support? How can an asset-based approach help lay the ground work for understanding all the resources that the project can access, and in particular how to ensure the project has the funding it needs to start and sustain (knowing that it will develop and change along the way)?

Process

With partnerships in place, and networks and assets identified, the next steps are to start the ball rolling. Thanks to the work of many, many creative placemaking practitioners, we know a lot now about how to support the unique aspects of artist/municipal or artist/CDC relationships, and how these partnerships can ultimately serve the community. We also know that there’s still lots to learn, and evaluation is also a key to success, as well as communicating out about project stories and lessons learned. It’s all a connected field of practice and one project’s hindsight quickly becomes another project’s foresight.