The Creative Placemaking Minor demonstrates how artists and designers can play a vital role in advancing public dialogue, exploring our shared humanity and addressing major challenges—from sparking conversations about inequitable development to celebrating the diverse communities and cultures around us. In the Creative Placemaking studios, students engage in place-based projects in partnership with local creatives, culture bearers and knowledge keepers. This minor currently offers two tracks: one focusing on architecture and spatial practice and the other on the visual arts.
Jointly supported by the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (MAPP) and the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU), the Creative Placemaking Minor is part of UMD’s Arts for All initiative, which partners the arts with the sciences, technology and other disciplines to develop new and reimagined curricular and experiential offerings that nurture different ways of thinking to spark dialogue, understanding, problem solving and action.
Placemaking @ UMD
From whimsical crosswalks that calm traffic to community-partnered celebrations of culture, the Creative Placemaking Minor offers students hands-on, collaborative project experiences that spark positive change:
Rafael Rodriguez '25 (front left), a studio art major from Hyattsville, Md., applies orange temporary paint to the ground during the Chalk the Walk event at Tawes Plaza on Sunday. The event was designed to calm traffic and enliven campus.
VOTE (Fearlessly)! was a nonpartisan mobile pop-up installation that helped members of the University of Maryland community register to vote, learn about election day basics, understand out-of-state voting and ultimately functioned as a shared civic space leading up to the November 2024 General Election.
The Bloom & Beats community event at Takoma Langley Crossroads was a lively block party that celebrates our vibrant local small businesses, creative community, and families.
SiteWorks were performances on campus that marked the culmination of a collaboration between Dance and Creative Placemaking Architecture students who have developed site-specific works.
Curriculum
Sample Curriculum
- Core Course: ARCH350: Introduction to Creative Placemaking (3 credits)
- Studio Course by path:
- Architecture & Spatial Practice:
- ARCH409: Special Topics in Architecture Design Studio (6 credits)
- Art & Community
- ARTT426: Advanced Painting: Painting on Site I (3 credits) AND
- ARTT427: Advanced Painting: Painting on Site II (3 credits)
- Architecture & Spatial Practice:
OR
- Two Elective Courses (6 credits) (choose from):
- View elective course options
- Electives must be from different departments
Admissions
Eligibility
Candidates must be a student in good standing (2.0) and have completed at least one required course in minor, earning a 3.0 or higher. The Creative Placemaking Minor is open to sophomores, juniors or seniors (with time to complete minor).
How to Apply
The Creative Placemaking Minor is open to all students!
Submission Requirements:
- Complete the Application form. If you require help with course planning, please contact Lena Redisch, redisch1@umd.edu.
- Statement of purpose: 1 typed page essay or 3-minute video.
Tell us about yourself. Share what excites you about the minor, why it is of interest, and why you believe you would be a good fit for the program. Please also share how you imagine this opportunity will advance your dreams.
- Portfolio:
Share a wide range of work you are proud of, that demonstrates your passion, skills, and potential. If available, include at least one work that you feel is relevant to this minor. Explain how.
Architecture BA and BS Majors:
- Single Pdf Portfolio up to 10 pages
- Brief project description
- Describe your intent, year, class and instructor (if relevant)
- Submit
Submit all of your application files via Box.
Contact
Director and Architecture Lead: Ronit Eisenbach, Architecture Professor (MAPP): rze@umd.edu
Studio Art Lead: Brandon Donahue, Assistant Professor (ARHU): bdonahu3@umd.edu
Advisor: Lena Redisch, Program Manager (MAPP): redisch1@umd.edu