Artist/Community Organizer Francesca McKenzie Tackles the “G-word”
The Arts Organization’s Role in Addressing Gentrification
By Francesca McKenzie
The role of the artist and arts organization in gentrification
Gentrification is an uncomfortable word for artists. The beginning of rapid development in a neighborhood can often be tracked down to when a large group of artists (usually young, energetic transplant artists with good intentions and empty pockets) move in. The influx of new creative energy stirs up city governance and private sector interests, which then rouses a line of incentives for development, a shift in racial and class demographics, and the departure of long-time residents and homeowners who can no longer afford heightened rent or property taxes.