Building the Arts: Novel Policy, Original Research, and Community Action in Charles County’s Public Art and Cultural Master Plan

How does a community move from wanting a more vibrant arts ecosystem to actually building the conditions that make it possible?

This session presents Charles County’s Public Art and Cultural Master Plan as a case study in what a rigorous, community-grounded approach to culture and art development can look like – and what other counties, arts organizations, and community stakeholders across Maryland can take from it.

The session is organized around four interlocking contributions:

Statewide data as a catalyst for action: The session shares findings from an original study of per-capita arts spending by Maryland county, showing how comparative funding data can help communities understand their position, identify gaps, and make a stronger case for investment.

Arts-supportive zoning as cultural infrastructure: The session highlights new policy and zoning recommendations designed to leverage public and private sector investments to create more stable, long-term space for artists, arts organizations, and public-facing creative activity, offering a framework for thinking about zoning as an arts infrastructure tool.

Turning policy into place-based strategy: The plan pairs countywide recommendations with specific site typologies – including town centers, commercial corridors, and rural main streets showing how broad policy goals can be translated into concrete, place-specific arts, culture, and public art strategies.