Arts Build Communities provides training, coaching, guidance and knowledge through capacity building, continuing education, practical research and thought leadership.  Current initiatives include:

Continuing education and capacity building

Creative Placemaking Conference
The annual CPL conference brings together creative sector professionals, elected officials, and placemaking professionals to explore ways to build, grow and sustain creative communities and economies. About 120 people participated in the first conference in February 2011.  Learn more about the 2011 conference

Community Coaching
Working with diverse teams that include elected officials and artists, ABC guides and supports community leaders as they work on cultural plans and address other community and economic development issues involving the arts. Leaders learn while doing, and build their capacity to move from idea to action. Learn more...

Creative Placemaking Master Practitioner Certificate Program
Planners, architects and public affairs professionals can build their technical and leadership skills in this Master Practitioner Certificate program.  This mostly online program is designed to build creative placemaking leaders around the United States. Learn more...

Program participants learn techniques and best practices for arts-based community and economic development while building their ability to influence communities, clients and colleagues.

Practical research

Creative Placemaking Toolkit
This is an online database that describes the wide variety of activities that can be done to build, grow and sustain creative communities and economies.  The database covers more than two dozen strategies, from simple and easy (in-kind services), to complex and high-impact (arts-friendly land use regulations).  The Toolkit is being developed now. Sign up for the ABC newsletter to get updates.

New Jersey Creative Vitality Index
The CVI is a series of reports exploring the economic health of the creative sector in New Jersey, as well as keys to success in creative placemaking. Learn more...

Thought leadership

ABC NJ-ArtiFacts
This blog explores connections between the arts and community and economic development in New Jersey, and offers advice for cultural and civic leaders. Learn more...

Sustainable Jersey
ABC is actively involved in efforts to better connect the arts and sustainability. ABC is leading the arts task force of Sustainable Jersey and helping define actions municipalities can take to promote sustainability through the arts.

Arts Build Communities is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.