The conversation between planners and artists has been happening at a low level for years but growing concerns about the poor quality of new housing, the lack of trust between people and planners and the decline of many of existing civic spaces were beginning to spark new energy in the ideals of planning as an art. This has now come to a head thanks to a pandemic which has forced us to reflect on our homes and places and our connection, or lack of it, with nature.
This paper is designed as a provocation to feed into the development of the new TCPA Arts Strategy. The paper calls for an entirely new philosophy of planning based on Civic Art to restore planning as a humane and powerful force for enabling better lives. It aims to stimulate debate and action.