Culture becomes an economic force when artists, public space, small businesses, institutions, and audiences are treated as one connected local system.
My creative economy strategy work connects arts and economic development, cultural infrastructure, community identity, and practical implementation. I see creative‑economy work as the practice of building the conditions in which culture becomes civic and economic infrastructure. I treat exhibitions, events, artist support, public space, communications, and economic development as parts of one local system—creating opportunities for artists, giving people reasons to gather and return, strengthening local commerce, attracting investment, and building the relationships and organizational capacity that allow a place to thrive over time.
From June 2024 through May 2026, I served as Executive Director of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation. During those two years, I connected cultural programming, small-business support, public space, communications, fundraising, partnerships, and organizational systems into one reinforcing strategy.
Public Works: A Framework for Creative‑Economy Development
Beginning in August 2024, I used the Public Works plan to align LEDC’s cultural, organizational, and economic-development activity. By January 2025, its framework was guiding programming, partnerships, communications, fundraising, and public investment.
Evidence from Two Years at LEDC
Selected outcomes, June 2024–May 2026.
Creates shared identity
Individual giving increased 233%. People backed the vision with their dollars. The increase followed the creation of a coherent public vision, annual-giving program, donor-stewardship systems, and targeted campaigns—demonstrating meaningful public buy-in.
Newsletter subscribers increased 118%. Subscribers grew from 2,379 to 5,196, while average open rates increased from 32% to 48%. Growth in both audience and engagement indicates that more people were resonating with the message and choosing to stay connected.
Draws people to a place
18,000+ attendances. From June 2024 through May 2026, LEDC’s exhibitions, performances, workshops, public art, farmers markets, festivals, and community events generated more than 18,000 in-person attendances. These programs gave residents and visitors repeated reasons to come downtown and move among cultural venues, public spaces, markets, and businesses. Totals were compiled through ticket sales, door counters, and audience snapshot-count formulas appropriate to open public events.
Supports local commerce
Approximately $1.56 million in estimated local economic activity. Using the Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 methodology, LEDC estimated approximately $1.56 million in local economic activity associated with its cultural programming in 2024 and 2025.
Approximately $35 spent locally beyond admission. LEDC estimated that each attendee spent an average of $35 locally beyond the price of admission—buying coffee, shopping at nearby businesses, or purchasing from farmers-market and event vendors. Across more than 18,000 attendances, that represents approximately $630,000 in additional local spending.
Expanded creative opportunity. Programs, exhibitions, markets, artist residencies, paid public-art opportunities, professional development, and business partnerships created practical opportunities for artists and creative workers.
Arts integrated into economic development. I directed partnerships and programs that connected artists and creative workers with local businesses, municipalities, public projects, paid commissions, and pathways to longer-term economic opportunity.
Encourages use and care
A permanent vehicle for community investment. In 2025, I established LEDC’s first endowment fund at the Foundation for Delaware County: The Forever Lansdowne Fund in Honor of Violet and Bill Brown. Created through a historic gift from longtime community leader William “Bill” Brown, the fund supports the long-term stability of LEDC’s work and advances the organization’s goal of securing a permanent home for LEDC and its programs. The gift makes it possible to continue delivering the organization’s mission from Utility Works and represents a forward-looking investment in the building’s continued cultural use.
Pennsylvania Main Street designation. In February 2026, I directed the community-driven planning and application process that established LEDC as Lansdowne’s designated Main Street managing entity and produced an approved five-year revitalization strategy. The designation creates a durable structure for attracting future investment to downtown spaces and supporting their active, maintained use.
Integrated organizational infrastructure. I built a relational data system connecting donors, participants, artists, businesses, partners, programs, communications, and follow-up activity. This infrastructure supports consistent follow-up, relationship stewardship, and sustained care over time.
Selected Projects
Public Works: Art + Economy
A community-driven five-year strategy positioning arts and culture as central to Lansdowne’s economic development, public life, and long-term investment.
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Creative Work + Opportunity
Programs, paid roles, professional development, exhibitions, and partnerships designed to expand practical opportunities for artists and creative workers.
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Cultural Events + Public Life
Markets, festivals, exhibitions, performances, and recurring public programs used as infrastructure for gathering, local commerce, and participation.
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Utility Works: Creative Co-Working Space
Developing the physical spaces, shared resources, and long-term systems artists need to work, teach, exhibit, and build sustainable practices.
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20*20 House: A Civic Arts Program
A dormant municipal gallery became a year-round civic arts program combining exhibitions, free public programming, artist development, and community use.
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This work also shapes how I approach organizational strategy: connecting cultural identity, public participation, economic development, fundraising, and implementation rather than treating them as separate systems.
I build the relationships, systems, places, and institutions that allow cultural life to generate lasting public and economic value.