Cultural Planning
Cultural Planning
Cultural Planning is a place-based approach to planning and development. It is a process for identifying and leveraging a community’s cultural resources, strengthening the management of those resources, and integrating those resources into local planning and decision-making.
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission recognizes that there is a real value to cultural resources and we should work toward protecting, preserving, and expanding those places and events that make our region home for so many. Culture is a major driver of the economy. If you want to cultivate a good community, a desirable place, for people to live and thrive, you have to talk about the creative economy and cultural assets that people value in our towns and cities. MVPC works with our municipalities and community partners on cultural planning projects so we can expand, enhance, and improve artistic and cultural opportunities for creative expression in the community.
Cultural Planning Projects
Place and Meaning 2020
The Merrimack Valley Cultural Mapping project had two goals: 1) Produce a Cultural asset map and 2) Strengthen the regional infrastructure between artists, cultural producers, and stakeholders. The project was a collaboration between MVPC, Essex County Community Foundation, Elevated Thought, Creative Community Builders, and the Lawrence History Center.
Cultural Planning Labs 2019
During the winter of 2019, MVPC partnered with Essex County Community Foundation and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to coordinate four cultural planning labs for municipal officials, planners, and arts leaders from the nonprofit and private sectors in Essex County.