MicroFest USA: Expanding Creative Placemaking Conversations

Monday, October 7, 11:10am – 12:40pm

Organized and presented by Pam Korza, Co-Director, Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts, and Mark Valdez, Executive Director, Network of Ensemble Theaters.

Presented by Ashley Sparks, MicroFest Coordinator, New Orleans.

Over the past year, the Network of Ensemble Theaters has undertaken a national, multi-city project that aims to expand the discourse around creative placemaking, using a social justice prism and geared towards equity outcomes. Through the MicroFest USA initiative we are supporting and spotlighting local, grassroots, cross-sector projects that are addressing pressing challenges such as gentrification, food security, penal/prison reform, homelessness, immigration, and education. The artists, collaborators, and communities represented through MicroFest reflect a critical dimension of the creative ecosystem who are contributing to creative placemaking and social change within their communities despite decades of neglect from the outside. This session will share findings with peers interested in engaging in a complex exploration of placemaking and community development.