The impacts of local arts agencies on community placemaking and heritage tourism

The arts and culture have been shown to foster economic development by attracting workers and businesses in the knowledge industry, spurring tourism, and improving the housing market. However, beyond financial capital, they significantly impact other forms of capital in the community, as well. The Community Capital Framework (CCF) is an analytical tool widely used to observe and critique the relationships among various types of community assets: social, human, financial, creative, built, natural, and political. This study used the CCF to assess the impacts of community-based arts centers on their communities, particularly on heritage tourism. The results demonstrated effects on social, environmental, and business assets, primarily in the financial, social, cultural, and human capitals. The results can be used by community leaders as a starting point when discussing the costs and benefits of investing in a new local arts agency.