"Natural" Cultural Districts: A Three-City Study—2010-2013

SIAP developed the concept of “natural” cultural district as a way to rethink the relationship of the arts and culture to neighborhood development. Instead of starting with an organization or project perspective, this place-based concept views arts-based revitalization through the lens of the community cultural ecosystem. This ecosystem is composed of a number of independent elements—some driven by labor or real estate markets, others by a public- or community-oriented mission, and others by private motivation or artistic vision. Some neighborhoods spawn a concentration of cultural agents—organizations and businesses, artists and activists, residents and visitors—that function as a geographically based social network. This is what SIAP calls a "natural" cultural district.

From 2010 to 2012, SIAP undertook a study of “natural” cultural districts in three cities—Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Seattle. The project had two interrelated parts: a citywide analysis of the social geography and cultural ecology of the three cities and a set of case studies of cultural clusters within the three cities. Seven neighborhoods were selected for field work and qualitative study:

  • Baltimore—Highlandtown-Patterson Park and Station North;
  • Philadelphia—Callowhill/Chinatown North and South Philadelphia; and
  • Seattle—Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Chinatown-International District.

The purpose of the three-city study was to explore the relationship of the arts to the community change process and, in particular, how the cultural sector fits into the social and spatial ecology of urban neighborhoods. The project was undertaken with support by Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC), a New York-based national initiative. The research builds on previous work by SIAP and the Reinvestment Fund with support by the Rockefeller Foundation. See Culture and Community Revitalization: A Collaboration.

 

 

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  • Publication
    Cultivating "Natural" Cultural Districts
    (2007-09-01) Stern, Mark J; Seifert, Susan C
    This policy brief—a product of the SIAP Culture and Community Revitalization Collection, in collaboration with Reinvestment Fund---uses existing research on urban culture and community arts to make a case for culture-based neighborhood revitalization. The brief defines and illustrates "natural" cultural districts, highlights the synergy of social diversity and cultural engagement, and draws lessons of grassroots cultural clusters for community building and urban policy.
  • Publication
    Types of “Natural” Cultural Districts: Opportunities for Policy Development
    (2010-06-01) Stern, Mark J
    This policy brief outlines SIAP’s concept of “natural” cultural district, three types of districts, and different policy strategies for each. The material is a synthesis of previous research and provides a conceptual framework for the three-city study of "natural" cultural districts.
  • Publication
    “Natural” Cultural Districts: A Three-City Study
    (2013-02-01) Stern, Mark J; Seifert, Susan C
    From 2010 to 2012, SIAP undertook a study of “natural” cultural districts in three cities—Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Seattle. This report presents findings of two sets of analyses: a citywide analysis of the social geography and cultural ecology of each city and a set of case studies of cultural clusters within the three cities. For each case study, in the following seven neighborhoods, a statistical overview was fleshed out by qualitative study: Baltimore—Highlandtown-Patterson Park and Station North; Philadelphia—Callowhill/Chinatown North and South Philadelphia; and Seattle—Capitol Hill, the Central District, and Chinatown-International District. The citywide analyses examined the relationship of cultural engagement to social and economic change in the three cities. The case studies focused on the character and evolution of “natural” cultural districts and the challenges posed to their sustainability, including the role of cultural space. The broader goal of the project was to understand the dynamics of the community cultural ecosystem, connections between cultural ecology and community wellbeing, and implications for policy and planning.
  • Publication
    “Natural” Cultural Districts: A Three-City Study—Report Summary
    (2013-02-01) Stern, Mark J; Seifert, Susan C
    This summary of the full research report--"Natural" Cultural Districts: A Three-City Study (February 2013)--presents the rationale for the study as well as findings and implications for policy and research. Policy issues noted are: differential ecology of "natural" cultural districts; economic inequality and location advantage; and trends in the development and management of cultural space. Research questions noted are: change in neighborhood cultural ecology over time; new models of cultural production; displacement vs community revitalization; and reconnecting the arts with culture.