Graduate Certificate in Creative Placemaking

University of Cincinnati

Public spaces are vital contributors to an urban area’s physical design and social fabric. For centuries, they have been platforms for public gatherings, both social and political, and leisure activities. Sometimes, artwork enhances or defines public space. Historically, art has typically commemorated events or people. More recently, the contribution of artists, community members, city officials, and stakeholders addresses the role of temporary and quasi-permanent public art installations to improve public spaces while contributing to economic development. This phenomenon is known as creative placemaking. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, creative placemaking ''Integrates arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities. Creative placemaking requires partnership across sectors, deeply engages the community, involves artists, designers, and culture bearers, and helps to advance local economic, physical, and/or social change, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change.''? The process and the practice of creative placemaking are the foci of this graduate certificate program. All stakeholders in the process are considered: artists, community members, city planners, public and private sponsors, municipal government officials, and final users, amongst others. The physical, historical, and socio-political contexts are also addressed.