Task Force Report
In the fall of 2010, the Secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources, Linda Carlisle, established the SmART Initiative Task Force made up of civic and government leaders, legislators, tourism and chamber of commerce directors, private developers and arts leaders. Most of the Task Force members have played key roles in arts-based economic development projects cited in the report, and all have a keen interest in the arts as centerpieces of community revitalization.
The group’s purpose was to create a SmART Initiative designed to catalyze arts driven economic development in the communities of North Carolina. From December 2010 through June 2011, the Task Force met four times. Based on their own first-hand experiences and aided by guest experts, task force members developed the recommendations included in this report.
The essential question the Task Force attempted to address was what are SmART cities and Towns. One broad definition is that these are communities that use their arts and cultural assets to revitalize neighborhoods and downtowns, instill a strong sense of place and pride in residents, attract creative workers and cultural travelers, and create sustainable economic development. An even broader definition might be that these are communities engaged in arts driven economic development.
Smart Initiative Executive Summary
Smart Initiative Full Report
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