NATIONAL ARTS PUBLICATION DATABASE (NAPD)
How Arts and Cultural Strategies Create, Reinforce, and Enhance Sense of Place

Author: American Planning Association

Publication Year:

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This is one of several briefing papers created by the APA's Planning and Community Health Research Center on how planners use arts and culture to achieve economic, social, environmental, and community goals.

Abstract:

Arts and culture strategies help to reveal and enhance the underlying identity — the unique meaning, value, and character — of the physical and social form of a community. This identity is reflected through the community's character or sense of place. A community's sense of place is not a static concept; rather, it evolves and develops over time, reflecting the spectrum of social values within and around the community.

In this way, the community character of a city, county, town, or neighborhood can be seen as a story or narrative of a place. Planners and community members can come together to reveal and burnish this narrative through:

  • an articulation of the historic, cultural, economic, and cultural context of the community;
  • a commitment to the reinforcement and enhancement of the community's identity; and
  • the implementation of policies, regulations, and incentives that support and enhance this evolving identity.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Economic Impact, Cultural Planning, Community Development

ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

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Edition:

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Pages: 8

Resources: Document

PUBLISHER INFORMATION

Name: American Planning Association

Website URL: https://www.planning.org