In a post-modern society, creativity is the key to both cultural and economic prosperity in the U.S. and in the world. The creative sector has become an important element of the
economy, and it also contributes to the cultural wellbeing of the community and generates social progress. For many small towns and rural communities across the U.S. that struggle with
stagnation and decline, developing the creative sector may offer an array of benefits including improving local economies, empowering the community from within, and bringing about socially
useful development outcomes. This research investigates the role of art industries in small town revitalization with a focus on the empowerment impact. Using a multiple-case study design and
mixed methods, the research evaluates the empowerment effects of different art programs in two pairs of small towns located in Georgia and Florida. In each pair, one town has a major art
program while the other does not. The two pairs of small towns are: Colquitt, GA and Camilla, GA, and Mt. Dora, FL and Minneola, FL. The research has found empirical evidence for the
empowerment effect of art programs on the participants and the community. Further, the research has constructed explanations on how and why such impact takes place through a'Creativity-based
Empowerment and Development Model'. The findings of the research offer crucial guidelines for community leaders, development planners and policy makers to design effective programs and
policies associated with community development and creative industries. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2014. / October 10, 2014. / community economic development, creative economy, empowerment, small town / Includes bibliographical references. / Petra Doan, Professor Directing Dissertation; Timothy Chapin, Committee Member; Xiaojun Yang, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_252903 |
| Contributors | Wei, Qinghong (authoraut), Doan, Petra, 1955- (professor directing dissertation), Brower, Ralph S. (university representative), Chapin, Timothy Stewart (committee member), Yang, Xiaojun, 1965- (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (degree granting college), Department of Urban and Regional Planning (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (166 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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