It can be safely assumed that within the current CityLab DC cohort of about 15 individuals that the vast majority of us regularly enjoy some form of artistic or cultural engagement, whether in the form of a concert, gallery, street art, or community gathering. Though we may communicate varying degrees of value such arts and culture imparts to our lives, it is certain that we intrinsically appreciate access to the numerous outlets, activities, resources, and events offered in the DC metro area.
The Arts and Culture Indicators Project (ACIP) is an ongoing effort led by the Urban Institute to fully comprehend the critical value of creative expression and cultural vitality to thriving, healthy communities. The Cultural Vitality in Communities: Interpretation and Indicators publication explains how ACIP approached this work in three steps:
The ACIP collected quantitative data on metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million. Data sources were rated across 4 tiers based on their suitability for statistical analysis, and data exceeding a set of criteria (i.e., tier 1 or tier 2 data) were in turn statistically compiled to form arts and culture indicators. Indicators included, for example, the number of arts establishments, the number of artists jobs, and nonprofit arts expenses.
As we fulfill our CityLab role as de facto urban planners, consider how such indicators would give traction to the importance of cultural vitality throughout the planning process. Cultural vitality indicators help urban planners understand and communicate the importance of the availability of places like community and cultural centers for arts engagement by highlighting how culture supports a thriving city. Furthermore, they bring new light to the funding of urban spaces and perhaps drives community demand of policymakers and urban development decision-makers to factor in arts and culture as a key factor in quality of life.
Indeed, the District has already seen how the so-called creative economy can lead to value for all stakeholders. The Brookland ArtSpace established affordable studio and residential space for artists and their families, and has acted as a catalyst for further development in the area around Brookland/CUA Metro.
The Arts and Culture Indicators Project (ACIP) is an ongoing effort led by the Urban Institute to fully comprehend the critical value of creative expression and cultural vitality to thriving, healthy communities. The Cultural Vitality in Communities: Interpretation and Indicators publication explains how ACIP approached this work in three steps:
- By defining cultural vitality and thereby help clarify the qualities and attributes to measure. ACIP defined cultural vitality is "the evidence of creating, disseminating, validating, and supporting arts and culture as a dimension of everyday life in communities."
- By defining what data is needed to track the qualities and attributes effectively, and determining what data is available.
- By developing arts and culture indicators and comparing them over time or across different metropolitan areas. A set of three perspectives were used as a foundation for cultural vitality indicators: the a) presence of, b) participation in, and c) support of arts and culture.
The ACIP collected quantitative data on metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million. Data sources were rated across 4 tiers based on their suitability for statistical analysis, and data exceeding a set of criteria (i.e., tier 1 or tier 2 data) were in turn statistically compiled to form arts and culture indicators. Indicators included, for example, the number of arts establishments, the number of artists jobs, and nonprofit arts expenses.
As we fulfill our CityLab role as de facto urban planners, consider how such indicators would give traction to the importance of cultural vitality throughout the planning process. Cultural vitality indicators help urban planners understand and communicate the importance of the availability of places like community and cultural centers for arts engagement by highlighting how culture supports a thriving city. Furthermore, they bring new light to the funding of urban spaces and perhaps drives community demand of policymakers and urban development decision-makers to factor in arts and culture as a key factor in quality of life.
Indeed, the District has already seen how the so-called creative economy can lead to value for all stakeholders. The Brookland ArtSpace established affordable studio and residential space for artists and their families, and has acted as a catalyst for further development in the area around Brookland/CUA Metro.