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Place, Arts and Cultural Systems Lab

The Place, Arts and Cultural Systems Lab investigates how arts and cultural districts (ACDs) support diversity, equity, and inclusion using a national survey and case studies in the Intermountain West and Midwest. ACDs are widespread: it is important to understand barriers to and best practices for making those districts inclusive, equitable, and drivers of economic and social innovation. The Place, Arts and Cultural Systems Lab will both learn from and serve ACD organizations and neighbors by creating a typology and national public database of ACD characteristics; using the database to analyze patterns of DEI practice; identifying good practices for different district types, geographies, and capacities; and developing and sharing a flexible ACD toolkit for communities with a range of resources and needs.

Research Team

  • Amanda Ashley

    Amanda Ashley, Ph.D.

    Boise State University

    Professor, Urban Studies and Community Development
    Director, School of the Arts
    Boise State University

    Professor, Urban Studies and Community Development
    Director, School of the Arts
    Boise State University

  • Leslie Durham

    Leslie Durham, Ph.D.

    Boise State University

    Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
    Boise State University

    Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
    Boise State University

  • Carolyn Loh

    Carolyn Loh, Ph.D.

    Wayne State University

    Associate Professor, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
    Wayne State University

    Associate Professor, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
    Wayne State University

  • Stephanie Ryberg-Webster

    Stephanie Ryberg-Webster, Ph.D.

    Cleveland State University

    Professor of Urban Affairs
    Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs
    Levin College of Public Affairs and Education
    Cleveland State University

    Professor of Urban Affairs
    Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs
    Levin College of Public Affairs and Education
    Cleveland State University

  • Dianna Ruberto

    Dianna Ruberto

    University of Delaware

    Ph.D. Candidate, Urban Affairs and Public Policy
    Joseph R. Biden School, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration
    University of Delaware

    Ph.D. Candidate, Urban Affairs and Public Policy
    Joseph R. Biden School, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration
    University of Delaware

  • Jonathan Jae-an Crisman

    Jonathan Jae-an Crisman, Ph.D.

    University of Arizona

    Assistant Professor of Public & Applied Humanities
    University of Arizona

    Assistant Professor of Public & Applied Humanities
    University of Arizona

Place, Arts and Cultural Systems Lab Updates

A mother and daughter looking at Garden City (ID) Placemaking Fund murals. Photos by Visionkit Studio.

An NEA Research Labs program

This project was supported in part by an award from the NEA Research Labs program at the National Endowment for the Arts: Award# 1909597-38-23. The opinions expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not represent the views of the National Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for the Arts does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information included in this material and is not responsible for any consequence of its use.