As rising costs expel artists from urban cores, some small towns are positioning themselves as unlikely magnets for creative expression.
Traditionally, artists and other bohemian creatives favor low-cost urban living, often gathering in "arts districts." Today's rising urban rents might turn that pattern on its head as artists migrate to the ultimate destination in ironic cool: small towns.
According to this piece in Nonprofit Quarterly, "small towns are reinventing themselves through the arts and attracting new revenue streams and business." Anne Katz, executive director of Arts Wisconsin, cites an "explosion" of art facilities and programs in her state. From community centers to galleries, festivals to theater companies, many towns are encouraging investment in an arts scene.
The author notes that "[Nonprofit Quarterly] is exposed to a lot of pitches for stories about the civil sector where the hype clearly outpaces any real movement. It's a tendency we are not fond of, though those stories clearly do show some creativity. But Katz's narrative is helped by the reality on the ground."
Read the full story: Developing a Narrative to Advance an Issue: The Case for Creative Placemaking in Small Towns
On the Natural Urbanism of East L.A. Artists
The planning process often suffers from a lack of community engagement. According to James Rojas, planners can learn from the on-the-ground urbanism of artists in East L.A.
Rural Areas Embrace the Arts for Economic Development
A burgeoning revitalization model uses the arts as an opportunity to bring in outside money while hiring local.
Artists Breathe New Life Into Pennsylvania Town
Long suffering Rust Belt woes and lacking the name recognition of a Pittsburgh or Detroit, York opened its doors to another overlooked group: artists. The results so far are impressive.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority