How Creative Placemaking is Impacting Camden, NJ
Authors:   , Lockett Zipporah D. , Brody Jean 
Published: July 2021

"City Invincible" is what Walt Whitman, a Camden resident, called this town in his poem "I Dream'd in a Dream" in the 19th century. These words of inspiration are not what Camden residents of this day and age hear on a regular basis about their city. They usually hear phrases along the lines of Camden, one of the "most dangerous cities in America" and Camden, "the stepsister to Philadelphia". This city is still a "City Invincible". They have weathered many storms and have pushed through tough times. The arts, through creative placemaking can help clean up Camden's soiled reputation. My research explores how creative placemaking is impacting Camden, NJ for the better. Creative Placemaking is when the strategic use of the arts, culture, and creativity, by distinctive partners, sparks change in economic development, encourages social change and improves the physical environment of a particular place. How creative placemaking is impacting the city of Camden is important because it provides insight on how effective this tool is and provides more data on how the arts are helping to revitalize small urban communities like Camden, NJ. This city is known to be one of the poorest and dangerous cities in the nation and I believe the arts, with the tool of creative placemaking, are showing that the people of Camden have more to offer than how the nation views them. I used quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data regarding the creative placemaking efforts in Camden. I also conducted surveys and interviews in order to learn about Camden's residents and the arts and cultural organizations. I discovered that Camden residents want positive things to do; most people are financially struggling so they need events that are low cost or free; they need activities to do in their immediate neighborhood; and they would prefer more permanent art initiatives and not the pop up projects that are there one day and gone the next. More permanent projects will add to the long-term revitalization that Camden desires and needs. They also want a reliable arts center that is engaged with them to visit on a regular basis. Since 2014 there have been art galleries, art festivals, public art installations, workshops, farmers markets, art classes, concerts, and outdoor dance fitness classes due to the citywide creative placemaking efforts. There is so much potential in Camden they just needed an opportunity to show it. The creative placemaking efforts that are taking place are providing that platform but needs to be expanded to better serve Camden residents. This research fits into the field of creative placemaking because it shows how effective the strategy is in urban communities. The understanding of how creative placemaking is impacting Camden will provide an example that may be followed by other cities as well. It also shows where Camden is regarding the arts and how they are moving toward having their own arts scene in a few years (Riordan 2016). There are art organizations that are working hard to make the city a more vibrant and creative place that is thriving. To name a few organizations that have been consistent in helping the change become a reality are Camden Fireworks, Connect the Lots, and Rutgers Camden. Walt Whitman's poem inspired the city of Camden to do an art installation with one of its phrases in 2015. Fourteen different artists who were chosen through an open call, painted "City Invincible". In 2016 the letters were used as seating for a picnic area in Camden Night Gardens' Intergalactic Block Party. With help from the community, it was permanently erected on a wall alongside Admiral Wilson Boulevard in 14 twelve-foot letters in 2017. This street is a major gateway to Philadelphia and now it is an artistic gateway where more and more creative endeavors will travel. This is one of few public art displays in the city. This phrase echoes through history and penetrates the desolate places of Camden. When residents see this public art it reminds them that there was a time when the city was vibrant, bustling, and full of life. "City Invincible" gives them hope that it can be that way again.