“5 Ways Arts Projects Can Improve Struggling Communities” by Tom Borrup

1. Promote Interaction in Public Space: Public space provides opportunities for people to meet and be exposed to a variety of neighbors. These meetings often take place by chance, but they also can come through active organizing.
2. Increase Civic Participation Through Celebrations: Annual or seasonal events such as festivals or farmers’ markets can be especially effective in communities with great social, ethnic and economic diversity. The processes used to plan and carry out these events are at least as important as the events themselves.