Creative Placemaking has been described as a process of community development that leverages outside public, private, and nonprofit funding to strategically shape and change the physical and social character of a neighborhood using arts and cultural activities. While there are ample examples of Placemaking activities resulting in positive change, some Placemaking activities can also support gentrification, racism, real estate speculation, all in the name of “neighborhood revitalization.” Across the country, “Creative Placekeeping” has come into usage as a counter to Placemaking. Placekeeping as the active care and maintenance of a place and its social fabric by the people who live and work there. It is not just preserving buildings but keeping the cultural memories associated with a locale alive, while supporting the ability of local people to maintain their way of life as they choose. What does that look like in practice?
Presenters:
- Betty Yu, USDAC Cultural Agent, interdisciplinary, multi-media artist, educator and community activist
- Dave Lowenstein, USDAC Cultural Agent, muralist and mosaic artist specializing in community-based collaborative public art projects.
- Roberto Bedoya, USDAC National Cabinet, Minister of Belonging
Moderated by: Jess Solomon, USDAC Chief Weaver of Social Fabric