Recognizing that many communities need more resources to creatively address local economic, social, and cultural challenges, a coalition of arts organizations from across the United States are joining forces to share ideas and develop toolkits aimed at helping communities nationwide easily replicate proven programs that build stronger neighborhoods and cities.  

Spearheaded by Creative Exchange, the Leading Organizations Pilot includes the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, Macon Arts Alliance of Macon, GA, Metro Arts in Nashville, TN, Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana in San Jose, CA, and Springboard for the Arts, Creative Exchange's parent organization in Saint Paul, MN. 

"We are incredibly excited to be working with this group of organizations. Similar to the sharing economy for goods and services, we believe that both organizations and the communities they serve can be strengthened by the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources," says Springboard for the Arts Executive Director Laura Zabel. "These are organizations supporting artists in their communities, creating new opportunities and acting as bridges and connection points in broader community conversations. They believe, as we do, that artists are a creative force in each neighborhood, and can help us step up and creatively face the challenges of our times."

The Leading Organizations pilot is the next phase of the work of Creative Exchange to highlight and connect the movement of local arts and culture on a national scale. The groups included in the Leading Organization pilot represent geographically broad communities of different sizes, with diverse populations and unique histories, but each one is engaged in arts-focused community development and engagement work. 

"It's an honor to be part of the Creative Exchange's 'Leading Organizations' pilot," said Jonathan Harwell-Dye, director of communications at Macon Arts Alliance. "This is a wonderful opportunity to share our knowledge and to learn from organizations that we already admire for their innovative work building community through the arts."

Over the course of one year, the Leading Organizations will share ideas and working practices to strengthen each other's work. Creative Exchange will publish stories about artists with impact in their communities, and will collaborate to develop shareable toolkits from the Leading Organizations' proven, effective programming.

In addition to stories and toolkits, the Leading Organizations will collaborate with Creative Exchange to host gatherings of creative communities. These events will kick off in fall 2015 with a September 16 gathering in Minneapolis, MN, in partnership with Issue Media Group publication The Line and Public Functionary, and on November 6 in Denver, CO, in partnership with Issue Media Group publication Confluence. The gathering in Denver is funded by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, cultivating arts and leaders for a vibrant community. More details on the gatherings to come.