| This research examines the skills and experiences of landscape architects appropriate to lead the design and development of arts master plans for communities, by assessing current arts master plan practices in major metropolitan areas in the United States. It first identifies the requirements of the arts master planning process through systematic documentation of expert opinions. A comparison is then made to the scope of master planning for the arts. The scope includes prerequisites and professional aptitudes needed to complete an arts master plan for large cities in the United States and to assess landscape architects role within those needs.;An arts master plan is a tool that helps create a community that embraces local arts as a unique and vital resource that shape and reflect local cultural identity. Such plans also leverage the arts as a key component of an overall economic development strategy (Markusen and Gadwa 2010). Although the extent of rigorous arts programs and plans for cities go as far back as the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 1967, (Jacob 1995), there is limited understanding of these plans as part of systematic literature research, not to mention the professionals who are associated with writing the plans, or of their implementation and their management. More importantly, the role of landscape architects on the creation of an arts master plan has not been explicit, even though crafting arts, and the placement of art in the built environment has been one of the professional services provided by landscape architects.;This research follows qualitative data collection and analysis techniques (Taylor and Bogdan 1998). First, existing arts master plans and the relevant literature is systematically reviewed to document the roles landscape architects have played in master planning. Then, interviews are utilized with experts (planners, city officials, architects, art commission members, artists and members of the arts community) to gain greater understanding of the arts master planning process in major metropolitan areas in the United States. A list of skills and abilities possessed by landscape architects in this process was developed based on this information (Glaser and Strauss 1967).;Findings illustrate that although the literature reflects a dearth of well developed definitions of master planning for the arts, studies of art master plans and interview results with experts indicate that the skills and abilities landscape architects possess seem to be parallel with the required knowledge needed for master planning for the arts. An arts master plan can be a tool cities can use to both address issues of economic growth and place-making as a way to increase the quality of life in our cities. This research indicates that landscape architects are positioned to contribute to this tool. |
