CULTURAL MAPs

Through the Divided City initiative, we spent 10 years providing support to organizations, culture heritage groups, artists, performers, galleries, museums, events and festivals. In this next iteration of the Divided City, the Engaged City, our goal is to forefront the many relationships established by the Divided City partnerships and to celebrate their importance to the often-overlooked cultural vibrancy of St. Louis. These community-led cultural mappings will also help communicate the needs of the broader St. Louis community. The cultural maps of St. Louis will evolve from discussions on the City, with the St. Louis community, to redraw, counter, and add to its complexity and provide support and visibility to those trying to do something about it.

What is Cultural Asset Mapping?

Cultural asset mapping is a process where communities identify and document the cultural resources,strengths, and activities they already have. Think of it like creating a map, but instead of streets and landmarks, you're mapping out all the things that make a community unique in terms of culture. This can include:

• Places: museums, theaters, parks, or historical landmarks.

• People: Artists, musicians, poets or storytellers who contribute to the community’s cultural identity.

• Practices: Traditions, festivals, languages, or events that are important to the community.

• Organizations: Nonprofits, cultural centers, or community groups that support the arts or cultural education.

Once these assets are identified, the community can see where there’s already strength, what might be missing, and how they can work together to celebrate or grow their cultural life. It’s like taking stock of what you have before planning for future growth or development.