Appreciating Rural Cultural Resources

In a piece for The Daily Yonder, Shawn Pitts makes the case for rural placemaking, noting that residents and city leaders in rural communities often overlook their cultural resources.

According to Pitts, “Recognizing and elevating traditional art forms and folkways can do wonders for building positive local identity, and small-town arts agencies should do it whenever possible. Some communities hire outside experts to conduct fieldwork for this purpose, but the more hands-on local arts organizers can be, the better the result.”

Pitts explains how organizations can conduct surveys to understand their local resources, history, and the local art and places that residents cherish most. Pitts describes his discomfort with the term “placemaking,” writing that “It’s more about recognizing the authentic identity and inherent value of a place, and less about making anything new.”

Cautioning against “placemaking gone wrong” that exploits rather than celebrates local culture, Pitts notes, “At its best, creative placemaking seeks to promote deeper engagement and better understanding in the target community; the economic benefits are a bonus. Forethought and planning are required to achieve both, but many communities have found ways to capitalize on strengths in ways that are simultaneously respectful of local tradition and beneficial for the creative economy.”