The Review Magazine : May-June 2022

COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING

INNOVATORS, MAKERS, AND DOERS

By: Helen D. Johnson

L eaders in municipalities of all sizes, from very small rural townships and villages to larger, urban areas see the arts as an important element of place. Often, this understanding of the arts is focused on the more traditional roles that arts and culture play: for example, a cultural venue in a downtown district, a concert in the park, a sculpture in a public place, or as simply entertainment for people to enjoy. It’s clear that these are assets that contribute richly to the quality of our places across Michigan. But let’s be sure that we also tap the power of the arts as a socially engaging process that truly transforms place with, and for, the people that own and occupy it . The success of 21st century communities is deeply rooted in quality of place. The League has long promoted the importance of placemaking and the idea that the quality of our places is essential to the successful communities where people want to live, work and play. Community Wealth Building is placemaking with an equity lens. We approach Community Wealth Building through eight pillars that we believe are necessary for thriving communities: arts and culture; infrastructure; financial security; lifelong learning; environment and sustainability; public health and wellbeing; trust; and belonging.

The Bridge Builders program lies at the intersection of several of these pillars—arts and culture, trust, belonging, and financial security. By encouraging community members, local elected officials, small business leaders, and artists to work together on creative projects, Bridge Builders grants foster connections that help communities to thrive. It’s hard not to see that we are at a critical juncture in history. As systems fail us, it will take the creativity to adapt and be resilient. Creativity is expected and fostered in the arts—but we must provide opportunity for creativity to emerge from the safety of institutions, to actively engage with the challenges of our time in a way that is rooted in place and responsive to the entire community. This will require bold work that encourages communities to move forward on all fronts—to develop economic resilience, social connectivity, and cultural capital; in turn, re-energizing our municipalities. In his book, The Icarus Deception, Seth Godin says that: Art is not a gene, or a specific talent. Art is an attitude, culturally driven and available to anyone who chooses to adopt it. Godin goes on to say that an artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo.

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MAY / JUNE 2022

THE REVIEW