In recent years, the "Buy Local" movement has received new attention as part of the sustainability movement. AMS's recent work in cultural district planning has built on this momentum to leverage support for artists, arts organizations, and local businesses in communities around North America.

"The New Localism," cited by urban futurist Joel Kotkin in a recent Newsweek article, reflects demographic and lifestyle trends such as reduced transience among the U.S. population and drives a renewed focus on and investment in communities and downtowns. This phenomenon was experienced during AMS's work on the Cultural Plan for Visalia, California in 2008. During a town hall-style meeting, the community's low-wattage radio station was described as an engine for "creating togetherness." The station touts its local connections: "We are the only Visalia station: not only our license, but our antenna, transmitter, underwriting supporters, and volunteers. We cannot be bought, sold or traded."

In its annual consumer survey, the New York-based branding firm BBMG found that the number of people reporting that it was "very important" to them that a product was grown or produced locally jumped from 26 to 32 percent in the last year.

Locally, independent businesses in many cities are creating campaigns like "Keep Louisville Weird," "Stay Local in New Orleans," and organizing groups - the Metro Independent Business Alliance in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Arizona Local First in Phoenix - that call on consumers to choose independent businesses and local products more often. These organizations make the case that "doing so is critical to rebuilding middle-class prosperity, averting environmental collapse, and ensuring that our daily lives are not smothered by corporate uniformity," as Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with the New Rules Project wrote.

National campaigns are being organized and having an effect. National Record Day began in 2007 and now claims over 1,000 members. Local music stores across the country are reportedly mobbed the third weekend in April, triggering a 16-point upswing in album sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

International corporations are responding with their own "buy local" campaigns. Some examples identified in Mitchell's article include:

• HSBC, one of the biggest banks on the planet, calling itself "the world's local bank."
• Winn-Dixie's ad campaign: "Local flavor since 1956."
• Walmart is hanging bright green banners in its produce aisles that simply say, "Local."

At AMS we believe that cultural assets are an integral element of the "buy local" phenomenon and are incorporating this in our cultural district planning projects. Arts and entertainment districts represent a visible embodiment of the intersection between culture and (local) commerce, and that cultural assets can be significant contributors to economic growth and community revitalization when strategically and creatively deployed. Consider:

• Berkeley, California has thrived while rejecting shopping malls and big chain stores in favor of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District. The district is anchored by Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Freight & Salvage music venue, and is home to many locally-owned dining and retail businesses.
• Indianapolis is home to six designated cultural districts. The success of the cultural offerings in the Mass Avenue district prompted business owners to undertake a retail design and branding effort to transform otherwise drab awnings, windows, and storefronts into visually exciting and attractive spaces.
• In our research for a proposed arts district in Independence, Missouri, members of the public recognized the synergy between the neighborhood's cultural assets (an historic movie theater, puppetry organization, and art galleries) and local enterprises such as artisan bakeries, cafés, and specialty retail stores. Therefore, our recommendations focused on support for marketing/promotion of non-profit arts groups, and also addressed business recruitment and development through a host of financing and zoning incentives.

AMS continues to explore the relationship between culture and commerce in neighborhood economic development. We work with economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, city governments, and Main Street organizations to design strategies to increase the impact of cultural districts. Together, small-scale, local, and independent businesses and artists and arts organizations foster community-building, and support the local and indigenous culture.