News

Inaugural State and Regional Partnership Pilots Placemaking Project

February 24, 2020
By
-

Six communities in Southeast Tennessee will receive resources and earmarked funding to institutionalize arts and cultural development strategies.

In an unprecedented partnership, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Southeast Tennessee Development, Thrive Regional Partnership, and the Lyndhurst Foundation have aligned missions to form the Tennessee Placemaking Partnership. The pilot project is designed to support local communities as they scale up strategies that leverage local arts and cultural assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region.

Due to the leadership of the Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee communities that have completed the first or second round of Thrive Regional Partnership’s Thriving Communities accelerator program are eligible to receive consulting, resources, and earmarked funding consideration from the pilot project. Participating communities include: Athens, Cleveland, Decatur, Ducktown, South Pittsburg, and Whitwell who convened earlier this week at a project launch meeting in Collegedale, Tennessee.

“We are dedicated to helping communities enhance economic growth, resilience, and sustainability through their arts, cultural, and natural assets

— Anne Pope, Executive Director, Tennessee Arts Commission

“We are excited to work with these partners on a regional pilot project that will assist a cohort of six primarily rural Southeast Tennessee cities and towns with developing community-wide strategies rooted in design thinking and creative placemaking,” said Anne Pope, Executive Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission. “Investments made by the Tennessee Arts Commission in the cohort communities will be matched by the Lyndhurst Foundation. Once this project has concluded, our plan is to determine how lessons learned in this pilot can be applied in other regions of the state.”

Leveraging statewide and regional resources, the Tennessee Placemaking Partnership will:

  • Integrate arts and cultural development strategies into city planning processes of each community
  • Foster a culture of experimentation for creative placemaking and community engagement
  • Champion community engagement around local cultural plans
  • Build beneficial relationships between arts and cultural organizations and communities across the region
  • Identify long-term community goals and how they can be achieved through arts and cultural strategies
  • Connect communities to other state-wide programs and potential resources.

The Tennessee Placemaking Project is a collaborative pilot project by Thrive Regional Partnership, Tennessee Arts Commission, Southeast Tennessee Development, and the Lyndhurst Foundation. The project is designed to support local communities as they scale up strategies that leverage local arts and cultural assets for economic vibrancy and growth throughout the greater Chattanooga region.

Team members from Tennessee Arts Commission, The Lyndhurst Foundation, Southeast Tennessee Development, and Thrive Regional Partnership attend the Tennessee Placemaking Partnership Kick-Off Meeting in February.
Team members from Tennessee Arts Commission, The Lyndhurst Foundation, Southeast Tennessee Development, and Thrive Regional Partnership attend the Tennessee Placemaking Partnership Kick-Off Meeting in February.
No items found.
Share on Social
< Newer Post
Older Post >
Blog

More Like This

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Thrive Celebrates “Pride of Place” at 2025 Natural Treasures Stewardship Forum

-
This year, the forum highlighted the region’s natural legacy of place-based conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives that enhance quality of life.

The Power of Regional Transformation

-
As growth impacts our communities, preserving what we love takes a little transformation—and it starts with you.

It’s Official! Chattanooga Becomes the First National Park City in North America

-
After a journey shaped by the voices and passion of thousands of residents, community leaders, businesses, and nonprofit partners, the City of Chattanooga has officially become North America's first National Park City, underscoring the profound importance of natural spaces in civic life.