C3D has recently rolled-out the result of a massive effort to help document the impact of the arts and culture sector on the state of Massachusetts, where they are based in the town of Williams.  Their work represents a space where the Shifting Sands Initiative's goals and ideals have expanded to encompass the contributions of social science to the mapping and understanding of culture and community development.  C3D looks to address three related areas: "...the economic vitality (in terms of employment opportunities and income generation), the quality of life (as indicated by the demand for residential location within the community)  and the social life and cohesion of the community."

Working with arts and culture organizations across the country, the group has been attempting to understand the struggles of these groups to address shifting sands issues collectively and translate their efforts into measurable.  C3d has ambitious goals of developing a Toolkit for use by groups across the country and also developing a modification of social network analysis for arts and culture groups of social network analysis called social network mapping.

For more information on the Center for Creative Community Development visit: www.c-3-d.org or contact: