|
When Artists Thrive, Communities Thrive:
A Cultural Plan Blueprint for the Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley is known as a home to rich agriculture, environmental recreation, historic architecture, and an abundance of walkable main streets. However gorgeous and historically significant the Valley is, its arts and culture scene is central to its identity. It is home to countless studio spaces, museums, and performing arts venues, but most of this activity occurs in silos. At the regional level, one of the biggest efforts to unite the Valley’s decentralized arts scene has been ArtsHub Western Mass, an online database for individual artists to network and showcase their work.
On the municipal level, there are over a dozen designated cultural districts. However, cultural districts and cultural planning tend to prioritize economic development without focusing enough on how communities and individual artists are impacted. This project asks how municipalities can better serve the creative sector by looking at cultural planning that benefits the needs of artists.
A combination of a survey, individual interviews, and a case study analysis was utilized to help inform a set of recommendations for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) to implement as cultural planning initiatives to benefit the regional arts ecosystem. I also sought out the wisdom of over a dozen experts and thought-leaders in the field; these conversations helped me keep the research grounded in reality. Rather than being a fully-fledged cultural plan, this project takes the form of a blueprint, additionally suggesting avenues for further research. This blueprint serves as a catalyst for PVPC to bridge the gaps between geographic and ideological cultural silos, expand the focus on culture in Community Development, and deepen the connection between arts, culture, and Historic Preservation. In addition, these findings may be used by ArtsHub Western Mass to help inform their future projects and initiatives to benefit the creative community.
The literature review and precedent case studies were initially informed by a framework of “arts infrastructure,” where most needs of artists fall within one or more of the following categories: Policy, Investment, Space, and Community-building. The research results expanded on my original thinking in two ways: instead of thinking about cultural planning that benefits the needs of artists, the recommendations should be looked at as initiatives to benefit the regional arts ecosystem. “Capacity-building” was added to the framework of “arts infrastructure,” as a response to what artists were saying in the survey. Cultural planning that supports creative career longevity should be a priority for PVPC.
Another major takeaway from this project came from the survey: While artists need money and space, they value community more. There is a disconnect between arts and policy, and in the report I provide a few guesses as to why. Finally, community is also integral to the success of curators and organizers, or people who use most of their time and resources gathering and facilitating artists in some way, shape, or form.
Read the full text here!
Daniel Deutsch is a Research Fellow with the National Association for Development Organizations. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit communications with particular emphasis on arts and culture institutions and over 25 years participating in the performing arts, Dan's research and professional interests sit at the crux of placemaking/placekeeping, arts and culture, community engagement, and economic development. Dan holds a Master of Regional Planning degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of Professional Communications degree from Clark University. He resides in Washington, D.C.
| 
