From the Ground Up: Developing Creative Community Through Rural Arts Engagement

Melton, Rachel B.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109083 Copy

Description

Title

From the Ground Up: Developing Creative Community Through Rural Arts Engagement

Author(s)

Melton, Rachel B.

Issue Date

2020-12-09

Department of Study

Graphic Design

Discipline

Graphic Design

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.F.A. (master's)

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Arts Engagement
• Creative Economies
• Creative Placemaking
• Arts
• Urban Studies
• Rural Studies
• Rural Identity
• Community Development

Language

en

Abstract

Many rural places, defined as communities with less than 50,000 inhabitants, have a well-developed sense of place and identity and a strong sense of social connection, but simultaneously experience a lack of creative opportunities and programming. Involvement in the arts and in cultural and creative activities increases academic success and community engagement for individuals of all ages. Research also shows that rural communities are nearly as likely as their urban counterparts to participate in artistic and creative initiatives when those initiatives are less formal than is traditionally expected. This study shows how rural communities can utilize connections with artists and designers to build a greater sense of social connection and place-based identity while capitalizing on the day-to-day benefits of arts involvement to develop stronger arts-based economies. Qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, cultural probes, and case studies, yield data on the perception of identity, place, and the arts in Northwest Tennessee. By analyzing this data, themes are discovered surrounding perspectives, trends, and barriers to arts engagement in a rural context. Current examples are explored in which artists and designers in educational, professional and volunteer capacities engage with these themes and barriers to enhance support of the arts and creative industries in rural places. This study shows how rural community engagement in the arts and design yields an increased sense of place and identity with mutually beneficial outcomes for individuals, organizations, and the community as a whole.

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109083

Copyright and License Information

Copyright Rachel Melton 2020

Owning Collections