We highlight here some great articles we’ve read this week dealing with art, creative placemaking, and building great communities. You’re sure to find some inspiration to make your life and our community even better!
- Artistic Manhole covers: Check out some great manhole cover art found in Japan. We’d like to see some of this around here.
- Fostering a local music scene: In this Strong Towns Podcast, Jacob Moses speaks with Joanna Jurgens from Sofar Sounds about how you can spark a music scene in your town by hosting a living room concert or setting up a show at your local cafe.
- Check out these ten great public squares: Did you know that Savannah has 22 public squares in its historic district? Wright Square is one of them and you’ll want to take a look, while seeing what other squares across the country make the list. (Hint: yes, you’ll find one from Michigan on the list).
- Community Organizing as a Spiritual Practice: In this podcast from On Being, Krista Tippett interviews community organizers Rami Nashashibi and Lucas Johnson in a discussion about using love — the most reliable muscle of human transformation — as a practical public good.
- A library or cafe nearby could change your life: “living near community-oriented public and commercial spaces brings a host of social benefits such as increased trust, decreased loneliness, and stronger sense of attachment to where we live”.