Using the arts as a community economic development (CED) strategy usually brings to mind urban settings.  Recent examples include Cary, NC’s shimmer field featured this past winter and magical stick sculptures opened this spring.  But over two million people currently live in rural North Carolina.  … Read more

This three-part blog post series chronicles the process, joys, and challenges of implementing a large-scale creative placemaking initiative, in this case the Downtown Kinston Mural Program in eastern North Carolina. The Part 1 post of this series reviewed the program design, citizen committee, and w … Read more

This three-part blog post series chronicles the process, joys, and challenges of implementing a large-scale creative placemaking initiative, in this case the Downtown Kinston Mural Program in eastern North Carolina. The Part 1 post of this series reviewed the program design, citizen committee, and w … Read more

In the Fall of 2019, the City of Kinston established the Downtown Kinston Mural Program, a public art initiative that uses creative placemaking to build Kinston’s reputation as a destination for unique, thought-provoking art and community-oriented artists. This three-part blog post series outlines K … Read more

A new report has just been released that documents the significant impact the arts and culture industry has on North Carolina’s economy. Many people may be surprised to learn that nonprofit arts and culture generates well over a billion dollars of economic activity annually. The release of the repor … Read more

  Rick Morse is a School of Government faculty member. I just returned from the Emerging Issues Forum in Raleigh (February 8-9) and am still, as they say, “taking it all in.” The theme this year was creativity and the program was loaded with some of the leading thinkers (and doers) on this topic in … Read more