Arts and culture are increasingly being recognised as necessary infrastructure for healthy, prosperous and equitable communities. Arts investments can help local leaders achieve their public service goals, suggest the American National League of Cities and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Much beyond showing art - they can promote partnerships, lead community engagement practices, foster community development, nurture health and wellbeing, and advocate climate action. This conversation highlights that the arts can go beyond physical artefacts to offer a transformational process for driving belonging, social cohesion and igniting civic imagination.