Arts and culture take center stage in Perry community development discussion

The "Art of Place: Where Creativity Shapes Community" event is part of the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative's 2026 fall retreat, held Sept. 29-30 in Perry.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Community, arts and economic development leaders gathered in Perry Wednesday to explore how creativity can help shape Georgia communities.

The retreat is presented in partnership with the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative, Georgia Arts Innovation Network and Georgia Council for the Arts. The event focuses on how arts, culture and creativity can be incorporated into community development and planning.

Tara Bradshaw, program director for the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative, says arts and culture can have an impact on both a community’s economy and its quality of life.

“Arts and culture plays a huge part in Georgia’s economy and Georgia’s quality of life,” Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw says communities that incorporate arts and culture into their development strategies can create opportunities to attract talent and retain jobs.

The event’s keynote speaker was Ann Dickson, CEO of Creative Placemaking Communities. Her work focuses on involving artists and creative voices in the decisions that shape communities.

Dickson says bringing creatives into the process early can change how communities approach planning and problem-solving.

“Bringing in creatives, if you bring them in early it changes things,” Dickson said. “If you bring them into the visioning, the planning, the problem solving, creative people have a different way of thinking.”

Participants also took part in a mobile workshop led by the City of Perry, highlighting local placemaking projects and future planning efforts.

Organizers say the broader goal is to help communities across Georgia consider how creativity can be part of long-term economic and community development.