One of the hallmarks of Flagstaff’s cultural sector and Creative Flagstaff’s strategic plan is collaboration. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified a spirit of we-are-in-this-togetherness, willingness to co-market and share resources, and to build partnerships in nontraditional ways. The result is inspiring and quintessentially Flagstaff. A hallmark that we seek to continue to build upon.

By collaborating, our networks weave together, introducing new and exciting opportunities for creative experiences to more and more of our community. In recent history, we’ve seen Theatrikos create Live from the Theater Basement, alternating weeks between plays and conversations with community leaders, performances from many groups and artists in non-traditional venues and outdoors all over town, MOCAF and Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival teaming up to collaborate on digital performance and art-making.

Working together we build opportunity within the sector but by working together we make creativity and art-making more accessible to everyone in our community.

Flagstaffians dedicate themselves to lifelong learning. We find ways to share ideas and to teach each other. From creativity-driven summer camps like The Arboretum’s Eco Explorers Summer Camps, to community-centered reflections on heritage and social justice like Murdoch Community Center’s Lived Black Experience Community Dialogue Discussions to immersion in renowned degree programs like NAU’s ceramics program or arts-centered K-12 education like Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy or the ever expanding performing arts program at Flagstaff High School, educational opportunities in art, creativity, and culture are celebrated.

Together, we must continue to build on our community’s educational foundation to not only train the next generation of artists and creative practitioners but to foster interdisciplinary skills for the modern workplace.

By dedicating ourselves to the principles on this page, collaboration, lifelong education, and creative placemaking we expand access to the enriching benefits of creativity. But, we can’t stop there.

Creative Flagstaff’s strategic plan is rooted in its mission statement to foster creative opportunity. Central is access and equity.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the cultural sector to think differently about programming in ways that broadened reach and improved access.

Over the coming several years, Creative Flagstaff plans to continue to evolve its approach to leadership but also develop training and prioritize investment in programs and organizations that prioritize cultural equity.

The National Endowment for the Arts defines Creative Placemaking as integrating “arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities. Creative placemaking requires partnership across sectors, deeply engages the community, involves artists, designers and culture bearers, and helps to advance local economic, physical, and/or social change, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change.”

Project for Public Spaces defines placemaking as inspiring “people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community. Strengthening the connection between people and the places they share, placemaking refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value.”

Both definitions are at the heart of how creativity and the arts are central to Flagstaff’s public spaces and civic and community life. Flagstaff has a growing and robust public art program (see map) and continues to develop neighborhood plans like the recent acclaimed Southside Community Plan completed with extensive community input.

Creative Placemaking, placing the cultural sector and the community, through creative experiences and expression, at the center of public life and space has and will continue to strengthen our community and further demonstrate Flagstaff as one of the southwest’s most creative cities.