“Placemaking is essential—not just for wellbeing and a sense of safety, but also as a way to counter feelings of disconnection and displacement.” Matè, Trauma-Informed Placemaking

If Placemaking is about belonging, Creative Placemaking is the sprinkle of joy.

It's providing a space where everyone feels safe enough to relax and enjoy themselves.

Being a Placemaker is like being an Ambassador of a place. It could be a city or region, or an unofficial Arts District, or simply the block you live on.

There are a few different kinds of Placemaking that include Trauma-Informed Placemaking and things such as Place Branding - which is my favorite - and typically, there are four recognized types of Placemaking, which are:

Standard

Strategic

Tactical

and Creative - those who set the tone and branding for events and cities.

The DJs, the Eleven Madison Parks, and the Weiden + Kennedy's of the bunch, if you will.

Standard Placemaking is not a sexy one, but it's the most important one: the management of space. It usually takes a group of people to pull everything off. However, to gain the best understanding of "Standard Placemaking", it is essential to understand Public Space Operations, Place Management, and other community fundamentals, including parks and open spaces, transportation, the local economy, culture, and arts.

DO YOU NEED A DEGREE IN SOMETHING?

You don't need a degree for Standard Placemaking. Oftentimes, a place needs several "Standard Placemakers".

Strategic is long-range planning. Think Downtown Plans. This one needs a degree.

Tactical is short-term, low risk, and no cost. Anybody can do this one.

Creative Placemaking is the zuzh. It's Art, Culture + Design.

It's a monthly First Friday Block Party in your neighborhood. It's a Cinema Sunday with your neighbs. It's the choice of music that sets the tone in your establishment, at your event, or in your home.

It's the vibe for me.

Is this cool? Am I safe? Do I want to stay awhile?

It can be digital.

It can be a walkable blog scroll of art locations in your area - a super fun + free walk. It can be a silent disco pop-up. It can be you volunteering to create a newsletter or graphics for the next community event. New experiences are good for the brain (+ your community!)

We need our communities more than ever. According to Trauma-Informed Placemaking, ARTwalks have been prescribed by physicians, and Alleyway dance pop-ups are a hit in Australia.

There is a power in communal dancing, which is why I love that DJs are considered Placemakers. You can start Placemaking right now in your own community, from the comfort of your bed, digitally.

So how do you become a placemaker? You might already be one.