Though the huge economic impact of arts and culture on urban centers has become more evident (see Richard Florida’s Creative Class research at creativeclass.typepad.com/thecreativityexchange), cities and states still aren’t sure how to move beyond what they know best: bricks and mortar. Cities across north America have made intentional investments in infrastructure to concentrate arts and cultural institutions.

In 2003, the Urban Institute (www2.urban.org/nnip/whatsnew.html#Arts) published a national study of the conditions for artists in the United States, Investing in Creativity: A Study of the Support Structures for U.S. Artists. Leveraging Investments in Creativity was founded as a response to the UI Study.

Creative Communities is program designed to forge a nation-wide network of communities that work to make improvements in the local environment for artists. LINC selected partners in 14 communities across the country to identify and address issues that affect artists working in all mediums. These organizations apply to receive planning & implementation grants and technical assistance from LINC. Grantee communities include Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Philanthropic efforts like LINC (Leveraging Investments in Creativity) have developed concrete approaches to both help artists by educating them on the business of art and in helping them financially deal with critical needs - like health care. LINC is also working with business organizations like the Council of Smaller Enterprises (www.cosearts.org) and with developers to create sustainable artist work spaces. I find LINC’s case studies for developers to be especially impressive (www.lincnet.net/development_project_case_studies).

Chris Carmody / Carmody & Company
www.christophercarmody.com