The New Livability Agenda
The Building Livable Communities forum seeks to build on the growing prominence of “livability” agendas in Congress and the administration. Shortly after Senator Christopher Dodd (CT) introduced the Livable Communities Act of 2009, representatives in the House followed suit: Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR) launched a Livable Communities Task Force, Representative Steve Cohen (TN) sponsored the Enhancing Livability for All Americans Act of 2009, and Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO) sponsored the Livable Communities Act of 2010. In response to a call from Representative Jim Oberstar (MN), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teamed up to promote sustainable and livable communities through integrated planning and investment. This renewed commitment to livability offers the opportunity to advance a livability agenda that includes amenities such as arts and culture organizations, local institutions, and good design. These elements are the measuring stick for a community’s quality of life and heritage.
Partners for Livable Communities and the Smithsonian Institution
Partners for Livable Communities was formed in 1977 by Nancy Hanks, then Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, to embody the word ‘livability’ as a value by which both public and private efforts could contribute to creating better communities for all citizens. Throughout our thirty-three years, Partners has taken steps large and small to advocate for and take action toward community improvement.
In December of 1994, Partners for Livable Communities (Partners) convened a national leadership forum with the Smithsonian Institution and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This forum united all levels of governance to explore how to improve community problem solving by utilizing arts and cultural resources. Since then, Partners has continued to champion livability interests, ensuring that culture and the humanities are being engaged to their full potential.
Partners for Livable Communities would like to celebrate and reflect upon the last 16 years of an evolving livability agenda. Looking forward, Partners believes it is time to build upon this history and explore new models for program development that incorporate the full range of tools available to the livability movement.