Across the country, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are proving that arts and culture can transform planning into something more creative, inclusive, and community-centered. With support from the Kresge Foundation and in partnership with the State Smart Transportation Initiative (SSTI), the Culture and Community Network supported staff at MPOs and regional transportation planning organizations to assess, design, and begin implementation of arts and culture strategies for community engagement. Nearly 30 participants across 10 MPOs and regional councils came together for a series of virtual sessions led by SGA staff from April to September 2025. Participants also gathered in Seattle in June for an in-person convening in connection with the National Association of Regional Councils’ Annual Conference. Through the sessions, the cohort learned how to integrate arts and culture within their organizations through guidance from national experts and peer learning opportunities. 

The cohort is diverse in experience, geography, and agency size, serving regions across the country. The teams represent both coasts, the Midwest, and serve regions of a few hundred thousand residents to 19 million people. Each of the groups brings a different perspective on incorporating arts and culture throughout their organizations. While each agency is unique, our initial conversations revealed several similarities among the teams. These agencies are not just testing new ideas—they’re reshaping what’s possible for regional planning. The following case studies celebrate how MPOs are sparking change, building partnerships, and showing that creativity belongs at the heart of planning. 

As the nation’s largest MPO, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has shown how small-scale creative projects can spark big change. From artistic crosswalks to inclusive partnerships, SCAG has demonstrated that arts and culture aren’t “extras” in planning—they’re tools that improve safety, build belonging, and influence policy. Through the Culture and Community Network, SCAG is embedding these practices into its DNA and shaping what’s possible for regions nationwide.

In Richmond, PlanRVA is at the early stages of weaving arts and culture into regional planning—but its approach is already breaking new ground. Drawing on staff with backgrounds in grassroots organizing, quilting, education, and storytelling, PlanRVA is testing creative ways to make planning more inclusive and culturally sensitive. With support from the Culture and Community Network, the agency is building a foundation for authentic engagement that connects infrastructure decisions to the lived experiences of the community.

In Rockford, IL and Grand Rapids, MI, two smaller MPOs are proving that you don’t need deep resources to make meaningful change. R1 Planning Council is developing a “living toolkit” to connect communities with public art, while Grand Valley Metropolitan Council is partnering with youth and artists to link climate action with creative expression. With support from the Culture and Community Network, both are showing how small steps can spark lasting shifts in how planning engages communities.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is building on more than a decade of arts-related initiatives to move from one-off projects toward a sustained, intentional integration of arts and culture in planning. Through the Culture and Community Network, DVRPC imagined new, creative tools, strengthened partnerships, and embedded artistic thinking across engagement and transportation work. By reflecting on past efforts and testing new approaches, DVRPC is laying the groundwork for arts and culture to become a lasting part of how the region plans for the future.