Welcome to Creative PlaceMakers!

We hope you find this site both useful and inspiring. Over the past few decades, the Creative PlaceMaking movement has flourished worldwide. City planners and neighborhood associations increasingly recognize the powerful role that artists, musicians, actors, and other creatives play in driving economic growth and making communities more vibrant. This directory is designed to help you connect with others—locally and globally—through your shared creative passions.  Please see our Resources page for links on Creative PlaceMaking and other links that we like.

Paducah Welcome at the Ohio River (Me with my little dog, Tor.)

My name is Rachel Biel, also known as Rayela Art. I live in Paducah, Kentucky, a Unesco Creative City. Over the years, we’ve had wonderful exchanges with other Creative Cities, including collaborations in music, textile arts, ceramics, and more. We’ve hosted creatives from around the world, and our local artists have traveled abroad for performances, residencies, and exhibitions. These connections are transformative, building international bridges that foster peace.

Locally, Paducah offers a vibrant creative scene. Though small, our city attracts travelers with its theaters, galleries, restaurants, and music. For residents, it’s a hub of cultural activity.  The local job market is top heavy in entry level work, but opportunities abound for those who can sell or work online, making it a great place for creative individuals seeking inspiration and connection.

Creativity, Diversity and Sustainability

When a place embraces and builds on these three, it becomes vibrant and exciting. But with that comes challenges. I lived in Chicago for 20 years (1984-2005) and in Paducah since 2005.  I witnessed gentrification take over creative neighborhoods in Chicago.  Once these areas became popular, mainstream businesses moved in, rents skyrocketed, and the creatives were pushed out. Similar forces are at play here in Paducah.

The question we face: how can we engage in creative placemaking without displacing the very people who make a place unique?

Creativity

“Creativity is the characteristic of a person to generate new ideas, alternatives, solutions, and possibilities in a unique and different way. Creativity is the ability to conceive something unpredictable, original and unique. It must be expressive, exciting and imaginative.”  (Google)

This definition shows that creativity isn’t limited to art—it can apply to math, infrastructure, farming, and more. Yet, we live in a time when many creatives feel threatened by AI, algorithms, and the misuse of their content. Still, human ingenuity rises to meet these challenges. Even in the criminal world, people find ways to outsmart automation and override systems.

For the purposes of this directory, we are focusing on creativity as it is commonly understood in the art world—painters, dancers, actors, sculptors, weavers, and other similar disciplines.

Diversity

“Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.”  (Google)

History shows us that wars have been fought over these differences, but we strive for a path to peace where people enjoy freedom without endangering others. The Golden Rule tells us to love others as we love ourselves, but that’s complex—self-esteem and egos can complicate how we relate to one another.

We don’t have to love or even like everyone, but we must allow them their own paths. “Live and let live.” Yet, when we go beyond tolerance to develop a curiosity about others’ views, we open ourselves to new ideas. What once seemed foreign might spark opportunities for collaboration, igniting creativity and innovation.

In that spirit, Creative PlaceMakers has a zero tolerance for the glorification of violence in any form.

Sustainability

“Sustainability is the ability to maintain or support a process over time. Sustainability is often broken into three core concepts: economic, environmental, and social.”  (Google)

Unfortunately, all three of these principles are currently fractured worldwide. Economic instability arises from greed, war, and natural disasters, leaving displaced people fleeing unimaginable horrors. The environment is in crisis—unsustainable farming, fracking, microplastics, and fast fashion contribute to the degradation of our planet. Socially, we face daily challenges: mass shootings, discrimination, fear of others, and the rise of conspiracy theories, leading to widespread disenfranchisement.

Sustainability is ultimately about hope—hope for survival, for thriving, and for creating a world where humans, plants, and animals can coexist and flourish.

Asset-Based Community Development

The best way to tackle these challenges is through communities coming together and pooling their resources toward a common goal. Creatives have a unique ability to envision new ways of living, embracing differences, and spreading positive messages. The  Asset-Based Community Development Institute was pioneered at DePaul University in Chicago and has since spread globally, inspiring efforts to build creative cities and neighborhoods.

“The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is at the center of a large and growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.”

Rayela Art

I’ve been part of the handmade community for over 30 years—working as a ceramic and textile artist, selling at festivals, running four retail stores, managing a co-op in Chicago, and working with craft wholesalers. I spent nine years selling on eBay and another nine on Etsy, before shifting my focus to economic development. You can find some of my ideas on my personal site, Rayela Art (Rayela is my name in Pashto).

As the internet has evolved, trading has become more complex and demanding. Sellers now need to be makers, storytellers, photographers, social media experts, and more. While I use social media, I believe that investing in community connections with a shared vision has greater impact than trying to be visible online alone. I have a list of the ones I like on Artizan Made.

Creative PlaceMakers aims to be such a community, connecting like-minded creatives locally and globally. I also run two other businesses: Artizan Made, which supports online sellers of handmade products, and Green Roof International House, a small hospitality house listed on Airbnb and Furnished Finders. Both businesses are committed to uplifting Creativity, Diversity, and Sustainability.

Kudos

This directory was born out of frustration. The UNESCO Creative Cities bios offer basic information and one contact person, but no real way to interact with others. Even here in Paducah, those leading creative initiatives are often overextended, while many passionate people remain underrepresented. This directory could create connections we haven’t even imagined, locally or internationally. Whether it’s discovering a neighbor who makes art from pop cans or connecting with a global storytelling project, this vision grew through the support of many wonderful people. Kudos to them!

Diane Gerlach:  We have been friends for decades. A world traveler and former Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia, Diane was a chemistry teacher and now focuses on complex knitting.  She even taught me! In many ways, Diane has been my compass, guiding me through many life decisions.

She first came into my life as a customer at FolkArte, my shop in Chicago, visiting from Kenosha, Wisconsin. She loves to travel and after I moved to Paducah, visited yearly.  In 2019, when I was searching for a rent-to-own property, Diane stepped in and said, “Let me be your silent angel.” Little did she know what she was signing up for! She bought the property that now houses the Green Roof International House and myself, paying the mortgage and funding the endless repairs that came with it. Her generosity and vision have kept everything going.

Yes, she knit that sweater!

Tom Spaulding and Neddy Astudillo:  We were bright eyed and bushy tailed back in our 20’s.  So many life stories, first in Chicago, then Farmers Rising and Paducah and Tampa, Florida.  We’re wearier and creakier, but still hopeful!

Tom and Neddy represent the idea that creativity, sustainability, and diversity aren’t just values—they’re a way of life. Both have dedicated years to social justice, empowering land caretakers and fighting for racial justice. Neddy, originally from Venezuela, is a Presbyterian pastor, a voice for the LatinX community, and an activist for eco-theology. She’s also a gifted painter and musician.

Tom, one of the sharpest minds I know, balances his intellect with a love for life and a great sense of humor. He’s a skilled carpenter, creating beautiful and practical spaces for eco-living. When I have questions about environmental or racial justice issues, Tom’s the one I turn to. I love both of them, along with their three boys, deeply.

John Zeigler: John was like a muse for the arts in my 20s. He’d pop into my shop or would show up at a festival, buying one of my art hats! Back then, John had dreadlocks, adorned himself with beaded necklaces and bracelets, and was just a gorgeous person, inside and out. He spent years working with youth in some of the most violent Chicago neighborhoods, yet somehow managed to take them to places like Brazil and Africa, always opening doors to what could be.

Later, John got involved in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and became a leader in that field. When I was brainstorming on how I could contribute here in Paducah, he nudged me towards thinking about how our local assets could be strengthened. The idea of this directory started to emerge. I wrote about that here.

John encouraged me to apply for a Fellowship with the Goldin Institute, a Chicago based Foundation.  I did and was accepted in 2024!  The Fellowship was transformative, equipping me and my cohorts with tools to help us implement our visions. It also shaped my belief that this directory could truly serve the creative community worldwide. I am forever grateful to John, the Goldin Institute, and my fellowship cohorts.

Mary Hammond: A Visionary Leader

Mary Hammond was instrumental in shaping Paducah as a UNESCO Creative City. While I was working on my ideas, I often asked her to meet and brainstorm with me. She always promised she would—after her upcoming retirement. We had several conversations that revealed how deeply our interests and goals aligned, but Mary was overextended. Tragically, she passed away suddenly in March 2024, just a few months before she could take that break. I’ve been grappling with the loss ever since, feeling a deep sense of grief for her.

You can learn about her on her obituary and on this article by Paducah Sun.

Mary had connections with directors of other UNESCO Creative Cities worldwide, something I truly admired. One of the reasons I wanted to create this directory was to address the gap I saw in connecting with other Creative Cities residents. Mary knew these people, their stories, and their struggles. One vivid memory I have is when she called me as the U.S. was pulling out of Afghanistan. She was trying to help a fellow leader who feared for his life and his family’s safety as he would be seen as an American ally.  Mary asked if I would be willing to host them if she could get them to Paducah. She pleaded with Senator Mitch McConnell and others on their behalf, but sadly, her efforts were in vain. We never found out what happened to them.

Thank you, Mary, for everything—for trying, for working so hard, for your vision, and for leaving behind such a powerful legacy. Your work continues to inspire us all.

Creative PlaceMakers is dedicated to the memory of Mary Hammond, a creative placemaker to the core!

In Memory of Mary Hammond

Paducah, Kentucky

1955 – 2024