Artist's Laboratory Theatre
Fayetteville, AR
Challenge
The South Fayetteville neighborhood of Fayettteville, Arkansas has a rich history as an African American community and Underground Railroad site. In 2018, the City of Fayetteville was investing heavily in a new arts and culture district and actively courting housing developers. However, they had not engaged communities most likely to be impacted by growth. With rapid development bursting out of the nearby downtown district, longtime residents, businesses, and culture in South Fayetteville were in danger of being outpriced and displaced.
South Fayetteville-based Artists’ Laboratory Theatre, a “social practice company” grounded in a commitment to theater as activism, maintained trusted relationships in the community. They sought to design a process where South Fayetteville residents could guide their community’s revitalization. Artists’ Laboratory Theatre had a wealth of expertise in community engagement but lacked experience in urban planning, public policy, and advocacy.
Approach
In 2018, Artists’ Laboratory Theatre asked for Community Allies’ support in producing “Imagine South Fayetteville,” a three-day, arts-integrated community visioning festival, with elements including:
A community-driven design process that proactively fostered working relationships between those most impacted and city officials
A Pecha Kucha session that drew attention and resources to community-based, culturally relevant solutions already underway
A bus tour highlighting tactical urban projects created by local residents and designers
A free performance of “The Camp,” an Artists’ Laboratory Theatre production that featured local residents shedding light on housing insecurity and the needs of unhoused neighbors.
Sessions that joined local residents and policy makers and national experts to partner on a vision for equitable revitalization that would preserve local culture and prevent displacement.
Results
Community Allies’ approach brought the full breadth of community representation to the table at the planning and production of Imagine South Fayetteville. The event marked the first time that city officials and developers participated in discussions with local community members to strategize how the community could guide development and engage their wisdom about how to prevent displacement. With Community Allies’ expertise in both community empowerment and equitable economic development, they supported local elected officials in leaning into a community-driven revitalization strategy that would benefit existing residents as well as attract new investment.
“Community Allies’ commitment to community empowerment, expertise in economic development, and sensitive facilitation skills made possible important new conversations between our community members, city officials, and staff.”
Put Community Allies to work for you
Share this story: