Creative Placemaking & Public Art Strategy | Dastrup Creative

Creative Placemaking, Public Art, and Cultural Activation

Design and produce large-scale creative projects that activate public space, strengthen communities, and align public, private, and cultural partners around shared goals.

From civic initiatives and public art to festivals, markets, and cultural infrastructure, Dastrup Creative brings vision, strategy, and execution together to deliver projects that are both meaningful and measurable.

“Much of this work focuses on connecting stakeholders who don’t always share language, incentives, or timelines — and designing structures that allow collaboration to move forward.
Connecting “voices in the ecosystem” to “infrastructure in the ecosystem”.”
 

THE Work

Dastrup Creative operates at the intersection of arts, community, and economic development, specializing in projects that require collaboration across sectors.

Partnering with cities, corporations, developers, nonprofits, and cultural organizations to design and deliver creative initiatives that serve real public needs while advancing brand, policy, and place-based objectives.

This work is especially well-suited for public–private partnerships, where alignment, trust-building, and thoughtful execution are essential.

 

Services

Creative Placemaking & Cultural Strategy

Planning and implementation of place-based initiatives that use arts and culture to activate underutilized spaces, support local economies, and strengthen civic identity.

Public Art & Civic Projects

Concept development, artist collaboration, community engagement, and full project management for public-facing art and cultural installations.

Event Design & Cultural Activation

Design and production of festivals, markets, and large-scale public programs that draw audiences, support local creators, and activate neighborhoods.

Community Engagement & Partnership Development

Facilitation of cross-sector collaboration, including public agencies, private partners, funders, and community stakeholders.

Sponsorship & Public–Private Partnership Support

Development of sponsor-ready projects, partnership strategy, and narrative framing that aligns civic goals with private investment.

 

creative vision & operational rigor

A process balancing:

  • Strategic planning

  • Artist and stakeholder collaboration

  • Community-centered design

  • Budget, timeline, and partnership management

This approach allows delivery of projects that are culturally relevant, publicly accountable, and institutionally viable.

 
 

Selected Work

Troostapalooza

A large-scale cultural festival designed to activate Troost Avenue through music, art, and local business engagement, drawing thousands of attendees and strengthening community visibility along a historically significant corridor.

Troost Market Collective

A recurring market initiative supporting local entrepreneurs and creatives while transforming public space into a vibrant, accessible economic platform.

KC Art on the Block | A Black Lives Matter Project

A city-scale public art initiative responding to a critical cultural moment, centering local voices while activating shared civic space through visual storytelling.

Creative Revival Community Concert– UNESCO / Art Garden KC

An internationally connected cultural project highlighting creative resilience and global exchange through art-driven community engagement.

(Additional projects, awards, and publications available upon request.)

 
 

About Dastrup Creative

Creative consultant and producer based in Kansas City, working nationally and internationally on cultural and civic initiatives.

Led by Crissy Dastrup, bringing extensive experience in creative placemaking, public art production, and cross-sector collaboration, with work recognized by civic partners, cultural institutions, and media outlets including PBS.

Let’s Build Something That Lasts

If you’re a city, corporation, developer, or organization looking to activate space, engage community, or explore a public–private partnership, let’s talk.