Strategy in Action

The Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) implemented Arts-Driven Place-Making in 2006, when light rail construction along the University Avenue corridor threatened small businesses in the neighborhood. Asian immigrant businesses lost revenue because of their small profit margins, finite client base, and lack of access to capital, which led to the closure of several businesses. In response, AEDA worked with local artists and small business owners to launch the annual Little Mekong Night Market. The night market’s goal is to preserve cultural arts by providing technical assistance to small businesses and using creative arts to draw visitors to the neighborhood and highlight its diverse communities. In 2015, the night market attracted 15,000 residents from throughout the region to learn about local restaurants, enterprises, and cultural institutions.