What’s a Cultural Asset Map?
This Cultural Asset Map is one of the results of the Arts Council’s Rockford Region Cultural Plan (link).
The Asset Map rests in the belief that there are valuable assets – in the form of people, places, associations and organizations – and that recognizing, counting, and tracking those components can help move communities to plan and implement their vision.
- Tangible assets include arts and natural heritage resources on public and private land — including urban design and public art, cultural facilities, cultural industries, artist networks, cultural festivals and events, cultural occupations, and cultural organizations.
- Intangible assets include stories, traditions, and relationships that contribute to defining a community’s unique identity and sense of place.
How is it used?
Cultural asset mapping provides information about the strengths and resources of a community and can help uncover solutions. Once community strengths and resources are inventoried and depicted in a map, you can more easily think about what may be missing and how to build on these assets to address community needs and improve health. Cultural asset maps are also good for visitors to our area—they may be staying in a certain area of town or have relatives who once lived in a neighborhood—the map can be used as a scavenger hunt for meaningful things to do, see, and experience!
