Engaging Creativity: Reconceptualizing Community Leadership Through the Application of Virtue Ethics
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Utilizing the arts in community and economic development is a popular strategy in urban revitalization efforts. Artists have been involved in community change efforts through public, private, and nonprofit initiatives, but not necessarily engaged with the planning and policy process. This paper explores the notion of engaging artists as leaders in community and economic development initiatives through the framework of virtue ethics. PROCEDURES: First, the paper reviews the funding and established methods of utilizing artists and artist culture in community and economic development, followed by a brief overview of virtue ethics. Leadership, artist, and community development practices are then integrated with the concept of a practice within a virtue ethics framework in order to answer the following questions: can artists involved in community change efforts become more influential in addressing and resolving systemic issues? In what areas can they exert the most influence and value for their communities? What unique competencies do they bring to the table? Qualitative research compared the practice of meditation and the creative practice of artists. A third practice named community practice was created utilizing textual analysis. All three forms of practice were visually applied to a circular model to identify the “goods internal to the practices.” Meaning, goods that have the potential to address systemic community issues through artists’ creative leadership. IMPACT: Engaging artists in community planning and policy development can provide the non-linear and innovative approach essential for addressing complex, systemic issues within our communities.
Engaging Creativity: Reconceptualizing Community Leadership Through the Application of Virtue Ethics
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Utilizing the arts in community and economic development is a popular strategy in urban revitalization efforts. Artists have been involved in community change efforts through public, private, and nonprofit initiatives, but not necessarily engaged with the planning and policy process. This paper explores the notion of engaging artists as leaders in community and economic development initiatives through the framework of virtue ethics. PROCEDURES: First, the paper reviews the funding and established methods of utilizing artists and artist culture in community and economic development, followed by a brief overview of virtue ethics. Leadership, artist, and community development practices are then integrated with the concept of a practice within a virtue ethics framework in order to answer the following questions: can artists involved in community change efforts become more influential in addressing and resolving systemic issues? In what areas can they exert the most influence and value for their communities? What unique competencies do they bring to the table? Qualitative research compared the practice of meditation and the creative practice of artists. A third practice named community practice was created utilizing textual analysis. All three forms of practice were visually applied to a circular model to identify the “goods internal to the practices.” Meaning, goods that have the potential to address systemic community issues through artists’ creative leadership. IMPACT: Engaging artists in community planning and policy development can provide the non-linear and innovative approach essential for addressing complex, systemic issues within our communities.