Community and Cultural Assessments
A key element of placemaking is to determine what you have in your community so you can plan where you would like to go. Community & Cultural Assessments are one tool to evaluate and establish a clear understanding of your cultural assets, whether you are working in one small community or a collection of several small communities. This page provides a collection of assessment tools and methods ranging from smaller assessments to intensive planning processes. These activities can be scaled for beginner, intermediate, and advanced placemaking projects.
SPOTLIGHT: Revitalize or Die Community Assessments
SPOTLIGHT: “Revitalize or Die” Civic Pride workshops and assessments
As a civic pride consultant, Jeff assists community efforts in shifting the trajectory of towns. His sessions and assessments empower communities to build a home they can be proud of.
CAMP-Kit - Austin’s Cultural Asset Mapping Project
CAMP-Kit - Austin’s Cultural Asset Mapping Project
Cultural asset mapping is an approach used around the world to collect citizen input about cultural resources and help communities articulate their community’s needs. Conducting your own CAMP project can serve as an important first step in organizing your community in support of the arts.
SPOTLIGHT: “What Would I Look Like?” Hip Hop and Black Placemaking Study
SPOTLIGHT: “What Would I Look Like?” Hip Hop and Black Placemaking Study
In-depth interviews with 25 self-defined rap/hip-hop artists explore the significance of place in modern hip-hop. Bringing together historical studies of hip-hop and sociological neighborhood studies, the authors examine how exposure to concentrated disadvantage shapes hip-hop artists’ community connections.
SPOTLIGHT: NIRPC’s Creating Livable Communities Report
SPOTLIGHT: NIRPC’s Creating Livable Communities Report
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) developed Creating Living Communities to support community-based transportation/land use projects that bring vitality to communities in order to fund development and redevelopment projects.
SPOTLIGHT: Barrett’s Biological Survey Environmental Assessments
SPOTLIGHT: Barrett’s Biological Surveys Environmental Assessments
As wildlife biologists, Barrett’s Biological Surveys perform a variety of environmental assessments to assist companies and communities with reclamation and sustainable building projects in California.
SPOTLIGHT: SENDD’s Broadband Mapping Initiative
SPOTLIGHT: SENDD’s Broadband Mapping Initiative
In an effort to better understand the state’s broadband capacity, the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) launches a statewide broadband speed mapping initiative to give elected officials, businesses, and the public accurate data, in order to connect rural communities and support future broadband expansion grants and projects across the state.
Cultural Equity Planning
Cultural Equity Planning
A Cultural Plan helps towns, cities, counties, regions, and states take account of their cultural assets, strengthen their economies by leveraging these assets, facilitate deeper social cohesion, and support the vibrancy of communities by focusing on what makes them so great in the first place: culture.
Radical Walking
Radical Walking
Radical Walking is an activity to engage participants as they walk through and examine their surroundings and ultimately share their ideas and visions for creative placemaking.
Creative Placemaking Toolkit
Creative Placemaking Toolkit
In addition to giving a thorough overview of creative placemaking, this toolkit compiled by NEA and LISC offers resources for asset mapping and guidelines for evaluating impacts of creative placemaking projects.
Business Retention & Expansion
Business Retention
& Expansion
The Business Retention & Expansion Program provides a better understanding of the local business climate through in-depth surveys of business owners.
Where Your Sidewalk Begins
Where Your Sidewalk Begins
This activity encourages residents to consider their neighborhood and what elements make them feel safe or welcome.
First Impressions
First Impressions
The First Impressions Program will help your community learn about its strengths and shortcomings through the eyes of first-time visitors.
SPOTLIGHT: Mariposa County Creative Placemaking Strategy
SPOTLIGHT: Mariposa County Creative Placemaking Strategy
Following devastating wildfires, this California community developed a coordinated and strategic approach to measuring assets as well as conceptualizing, investing in, and managing creative placemaking projects in the county.
SPOTLIGHT: Missouri Passport to the Arts
SPOTLIGHT: Missouri Passport to the Arts
University of Missouri Extension’s “Passport to the Arts” connects local stakeholders in order to build and strengthen creative community and economic development by identifying local arts assets and needs; developing a plan to act on their top priorities; and making lasting change to transform communities through arts-based strategies
SPOTLIGHT: Wisconsin Placemaking Tool
SPOTLIGHT: Wisconsin Placemaking Tool
Wisconsin planning officials partnered to assess the needs of their communities and distributed placemaking tools to encourage regional offerings.
SPOTLIGHT: Mad River Valley Economic Study
SPOTLIGHT: Mad River Valley Economic Study
In 2014, Mad River Valley Development District in Vermont conducted an economic study that led to the Economic Vitality Workshop Series, designed to create an inclusive discussion surrounding the MRV’s economic development barriers and opportunities.
SPOTLIGHT: Villa Rica Strategic Vision and Plan (RSVP)
SPOTLIGHT: Villa Rica Strategic Vision and Plan (RSVP)
In 2016 in Villa Rica, Georgia, partner organizations came together to create a strategic vision, plan, and short-term work program to guide future growth while ensuring that the city retains the small-town atmosphere and intense community pride that make Villa Rica a great place to call home.
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Technical Assistance Provider Directory
Find a provider to assist with your community assessment or integrate your placemaking project to community needs.
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Financial Assistance Directory
Financial assistance providers can be a terrific asset for your community and projects. Connect with one in your area.
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Share Your Project, Resource or Spotlight
Share your community’s success using assessments to further your placemaking goals by submitting here.