WHAT’S IN A MAP?: EVALUATING MAPPING TECHNIQUES AND MEASURES OF CULTURE TO INFORM EQUITABLE CULTURAL PLANNING IN DALLAS, TEXAS

Authors

• Kena Nicol, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow

Document Type

Report

Abstract

The City of Dallas developed a neighborhood typology map to assess cultural resource distribution as part of its 2018 Cultural Plan, representing a relatively new approach that remains underexplored in academic literature. In the same plan, stakeholders identified equity as a central value, highlighting the need for tools that better support equitable cultural planning. This study evaluates the outcomes of two mapping techniques–cultural asset mapping and opportunity mapping – to examine how each represents cultural resource distribution across Dallas and supports equity-oriented analysis. Cultural asset mapping, the standard approach in cultural planning, identifies the spatial distribution of physical cultural infrastructure. In contrast, opportunity mapping, which is grounded in the idea that neighborhood conditions shape individual well-being and outcomes, enables the inclusion of a broader set of variables that reflect more expansive and contemporary understandings of culture. I collected data for both maps from multiple sources and aggregated them at the census tract level. The cultural asset map depicts the distribution of physical cultural infrastructure. I then utilized multivariate cluster analysis for the opportunity-inspired map to classify neighborhoods into four typologies based on cultural infrastructure, civic infrastructure, and socioeconomic characteristics. By comparing the outcomes of these approaches, I demonstrate how the selection of variables and mapping methodologies influence the representation of cultural resources and offer insight into their implications for advancing equitable cultural planning.

Disciplines

Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis | Geographic Information Sciences | Spatial Science | Urban, Community and Regional Planning | Urban Studies | Urban Studies and Planning

Publication Date

Spring 5-6-2026

Language

English

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Nicol, Kena, "WHAT’S IN A MAP?: EVALUATING MAPPING TECHNIQUES AND MEASURES OF CULTURE TO INFORM EQUITABLE CULTURAL PLANNING IN DALLAS, TEXAS" (2026). Planning Masters Professional Reports. 1.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/planning_reports2/1