Community Development & Local Talent Strategy
Legacy + Identity at the Heart of Every Festival
At City Streets Music®, we believe the true success of a festival lies not just in the size of the crowd, but in how deeply it reflects, involves, and uplifts the community it serves. Our third pillar is built on the conviction that every city has its own voice, and our job is to help it be heard.
This work is about more than performance. It’s about cultural identity, artist visibility, youth investment, and lasting civic pride.
Through integrated community engagement, local artist platforms, and educational outreach, we ensure every City Streets Music® festival is rooted in the place it happens and leaves something behind.
What This Pillar Includes
Why It Matters
Culture isn’t imported, it’s already there.
Our job is to elevate it, celebrate it, and ensure it’s part of the spotlight. When communities see themselves in the festival, they show up. And when cities invest in their own artists, they build something that endures.
With City Streets Music®, your festival becomes more than a moment. It becomes a movement one that centers legacy and identity for your city and its future.
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Spotlighting Local Talent
We collaborate with city leaders and local music scenes to identify emerging artists, bands, and creators, inviting them to share stages with national headliners and ensuring they’re woven into the festival’s main experience, not sidelined.
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Pre-Festival Artist Programs
Local talent is showcased in the weeks leading up to the festival through curated showcases and friendly competitions, culminating in high-visibility mainstage opportunities for selected acts.
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Youth Engagement & Education
From in-school visits to youth jam sessions and mentorship with featured artists, we create meaningful access points for young people planting seeds for the next generation of performers, producers, and culture bearers.
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Partnerships with Arts & Cultural Organizations
We work closely with local nonprofits, schools, and community groups to amplify existing arts programming and support year-round visibility beyond the festival weekend.
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Civic Pride & Storytelling
Through music, visual design, vendor selection, and programming choices, we help cities tell their story honoring heritage, diversity, and the cultural threads that make each place unique.
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A Legacy Built to Last
Our goal is to co-create something that outlives the stage. By investing in local talent and creating a community framework around each event, we leave cities with stronger arts ecosystems and a renewed sense of cultural identity.