Leaders in the field of equitable development to hold Creative Placemaking National Summit in Phoenix

Civic and cultural leaders who practice “creative placemaking,” the community approach that puts arts, culture and design at the heart of community planning and equitable development, will hold their 2019 annual National Leadership Summit on Nov. 14-16 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

The summit, co-produced by The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking (NCCP), ArtPlace America and Arizona State University's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, will offer seminars with thought leaders, stimulating group discussions and hands-on workshops in addition to three days of networking opportunities with professionals working at the intersection of arts, culture, community planning and development.

Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the United States, provides a unique backdrop for relevant discussion of the significant issues of climate, resilience, water resources, immigration and indigeneity in communities.

Maria Rosario Jackson, Institute Professor in the Herberger Institute with an appointment in The Design School and a professor in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, is one of the nation's creative placemaking experts.

“We are excited to be hosting people from all around the United States who are committed to the integration of arts, culture and design in community development and related fields,” Jackson said. “The work to be shared and conversations to be had have relevance to the Southwest and beyond. I am looking forward to learning from colleagues and to sharing how ASU is developing educational programing, building local, regional and national partnerships, and contributing to the evolution of practices that, at their best, cause us all to reckon with historic barriers to opportunity and reimagine what it takes to build more just and equitable communities.”

Jamie Bennett, executive director of ArtPlace America, said that “ASU’s commitment to building the field of creative placemaking is palpable, and NCCP has chosen the perfect partner to host the summit in Phoenix.” 

“National convenings provide a supportive space for those in the field to come together to foster community, facilitate collaborations, explore, learn and grow,” Bennett said. “ASU and NCCP will hold this space while also amplifying the work that is shared.”

“The National CPL Summit draws leaders — and those who want to become leaders in the growing creative placemaking community,” said NCCP Executive Director Leonardo Vazquez.

 Conference sessions offer insight into: 

• Strengthening public and environmental health.

• Protecting and enhancing Latino and Native American communities.

• Promoting better infrastructure and transportation planning.

• Responding to disinvestment in communities.

The summit features presentations by national leaders, including Geneva Vest (the Trust for Public Land), Wanda Dalla Costa (Indigeous Design Collaborative) and Rebecca Cordes Chan (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).

NCCP and ArtPlace America have co-produced nearly a dozen Creative Placemaking Leadership Summits throughout the country, with people attending from 46 states and territories.

Also helping to build the content of the event are several national work group members, including First Peoples Fund, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Alliance for Innovation, Burning Man/Black Rock Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Western States Arts Federation, ASU’s Watts College, National Association of Counties, Designing Local, Purdue University, SmartLAB, Cultural Planning Group, Educational Foundation of America, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, Americans for the Arts, MEC Placemaking, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, Transportation for America and the San Diego Arts Commission.

Spots for the summit are still available. Register online, and visit cpcommunities.org/national for more information.