Representation of the Aztec calendar, created by the Artist collective Poetic Kinetics, located in El Paso. Photo courtesy of El Paso Downtown Arts District.

Representation of the Aztec calendar, created by the Artist collective Poetic Kinetics, located in El Paso. Photo courtesy of El Paso Downtown Arts District.

Policy & Advocacy

FURTHERING CREATIVE PLACEMAKING / PLACEKEEPING IN TEXAS

The successful development of public policy and public funding to foster, support and incentivize creative placemaking involves defining creative placemaking’s goals, articulating its value for our citizens and communities, and building a tool-kit of how-to resources for engaging in this important work.  And, all the while, giving voice to the value, merits, needs, and resources to our elected officials, be they federal, state, county, municipal or other.

Resources to get you started advocating for creative placemaking in your community.

GETTING STARTED

ADVOCACY BASICS

TEXAS LEGISLATURE 101

ADVOCACY RESOURCES

 
 
KGMCA-PRH artist fellows. Photo courtesy of Project Row Houses.

KGMCA-PRH artist fellows. Photo courtesy of Project Row Houses.

We all need to become advocates for this work.

We must ask ourselves, our decision-makers and legislators:

  • Why is this work important?

  • What impact does it have on their constituents and communities?

  • Why should public resources be invested in creative and cultural pursuit?

  • Through what means should we support this work?

  • What are the current strengths, challenges and opportunities?

  • What are the impediments and how do we fill the gaps and eliminate the barriers?

Advocacy and education are key to clearly articulating and pursuing public policy and funding. 

And while there are different hierarchies of decision making and legislative differences in defining and enabling how policy and funding is secured, etc., the fundamental opportunity we have and must maximize is building champions within each legislative arena (federal, state, county, municipality, etc.) – and developing strong and local relationships with our decision makers to direct and impact change.

By building relationships within each legislative body, strengthening networks of practitioners, sharing information, and normalizing practice, creative placemaking leaders in Texas will lay the groundwork for meaningful state-level policy change to support this work. A successful network of creative placemaking practitioners will be able to clearly identify and pursue promising policy advocacy opportunities.