For metropolitan planning organization staff, arts and culture professionals, equity practitioners and funders supporting innovation in regional planning, Smart Growth America has released a comprehensive blueprint on integrating arts and culture into community engagement. Based on the Culture and Community Network’s work from April through October 2025, the report documents both breakthroughs and challenges, offering a roadmap for moving beyond tactical art installations toward genuine systems change and co-design.

The report offers tools to integrate arts and culture into regional planning, whether starting from scratch or expanding existing programs. It includes practical guidance on funding, staffing, measuring progress, and navigating bureaucratic barriers.