Creative Arts & Placemaking is an innovation-sector that is often overlooked. Broadly defined, this refers to the participation in a range of activities that allow for creative and imaginative expression, such as music and art. Importantly, innovations in creative art can be a catalyst for both economic and social development (Tremblay and Pilati 2013). For example, recently many cities have designated cultural or art districts which are meant to facilitate not only place-making identities, but encourage economic development surrounding the arts as well. 

The first creative art in the Inland Empire was expressed by indigenous tribes and communities. Paintings and other pieces of art were used to tell stories, express creativity, and to reinforce cultural values and norms. This early art can be viewed at venues like the Ontario Museum of History and Art and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in Palm Springs. In 1932, the San Bernardino Art Association was founded as a non-profit arts organization serving the multicultural art community of the Inland Empire. Art associations and other groups around this time were an innovative way to pool resources and catalog and support local artists. 

The arts and cultural activity play an elemental role in defining community life. These place-making activities not only enhance human development, but also can help shape the social, physical, cultural and economic identity of a community, spurring economic development, and creating stronger social cohesion and community revitalization. Through this creative place-making, a community can revitalize and reinvest in marginalized communities.