This thesis investigates four arts districts (Providence, RI, Pawtucket RI, Worcester MA, and New Bedford MA) in order to answer ways in which artists can be proactively involved in the urban regeneration process.

Working paper presented as part of the New York Creative Economy Project's 2006 meeting, "Opportunities and Challanges Facing the rural Creative Economy."

This report examines the investment of the state of Massachusetts in the arts and culture. According to the report, Massachusetts ranks 42^nd in the nation in the average grant it awards to cultural organizations and community projects. 

These documents define Creative Placemaking and relay some issues that relate to it. The authors outline how arts administrators can promote creative placemaking projects to attract people to their cities. 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog featured this article 10 Ways to Keep the 'Local' in a Local historic District.

"Over the past several weeks we’ve covered several aspects of creating local historic districts, including deciding to establish a local historic district, considering where its boundaries should be, and getting community buy-in. This week, we’re looking at keeping the local in your historic district, because districts are not a one-size-fits-all solution." [exceprt from blog post]

This guide represents Partners for Livable Communities culmination of the experience and knowledge on an issue that has such a great potential for community development. The report demonstrates how cultural heritage is not just something to preserve for future generations, but is in fact an asset that can be leveraged to bring real economic benefits to the community.

Cultural Planning at 40 - A Look at the Practice and Its Progress sheds light on the aspirations, accomplishments, shortcomings, and methods used in cultural planning over the past decade and compares it with a similar study from 1994 by Dr. Craig Dreeszen.

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help us express our values, and build bridges between cultures. The arts are also a fundamental component of a healthy community—strengthening them socially, educationally, and economically—benefits that persist even in difficult social and economic times.

Local arts agencies—arts councils, arts commissions, cultural affairs departments—are an essential tool for community leaders as they rebuild their economies and promote social cohesion. The nation’s 4,500 local arts agencies (LAAs) support, present, and promote the dynamic value of the arts. Through their partnerships and leadership, LAAs are building healthier communities through the arts.

In this paper, Lyz Crane draws on the work of practitioners and researchers to characterize the field of arts-based community development in which arts and culture can help achieve place based change related to the physical, social, and economic dimensions of place.  From the premise that the existence of arts is considered a powerful end in itself, Crane then outlines the variety of ways that the actors and activities involved in arts and community development work can relate to and interact with each other to create sustainable communities.  Looking at the cultural ecology of