Placemaking in Practice: Municipal Arts and Cultural Plans' Approaches to Placemaking and Creative Placemaking.

This article examines how municipal arts and cultural plans in the United States incorporate the concepts of placemaking and creative placemaking—strategies aimed at revitalizing urban spaces through arts, culture, and community engagement. Analyzing sixty-four such plans, the study finds that while a slight majority mention these terms, they often use them interchangeably and focus primarily on the benefits, such as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), neighborhood revitalization, and beautification. However, these plans generally lack detailed strategies for implementation and show limited awareness of potential drawbacks like gentrification or displacement, which are more frequently discussed in academic critiques. The article highlights a gap between scholarly concerns and practitioner perspectives, suggesting a need for more nuanced, inclusive approaches—such as placekeeping—that prioritize resident-led processes and equitable outcomes in placemaking efforts.