For their capstone project, graduate students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs will create the first comprehensive arts and cultural plan for West Burlington and Burlington, communities that share a border and strong sense of collaboration while maintaining distinct identities.

Like many communities, the cities of West Burlington and Burlington recognize the value of strengthening and growing local arts and culture assets, building social cohesion and community identity around shared values, and leveraging arts & cultural to enhance economic vitality and their unique “sense of place.” Increasing support for creative placemaking at the state and national levels further demonstrates the recognition of arts and culture as an effective and community and economic development tool. APA’s Applied Research page on Arts, Culture & Creativity, as well as the Arts and Planning Division of the APA, discuss how this work supports and intersects with planning practice.  

Elements of this plan (as described in the Arts & Planning Toolkit) may include:

• Community visioning
• Developing broad goals and strategies and considering how they align with other communities needs and opportunities
• Cultural asset mapping (tangible and intangible assets)
• Case study research
• Articulating the economic and social justifications for local investment in arts & culture assets and local artists
• Identifying optimal locations for site-specific public art installations 
• Identifying strategies to activate underutilized public spaces
• Developing wayfinding recommendations to direct residents and visitors to key points of interest
• Policy, programming, and funding recommendations