What can Lawrence learn from a smaller Kansas city to the west about creative placemaking? Maybe a lot.

The Lawrence Arts Roundtable, a group promoting arts organizations and partnerships, invites the public to an upcoming discussion featuring a talk from Salina Arts and Humanities executive director Brad Anderson.

The event is planned for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Union Pacific Depot Community Room, 402 N. Second St.

The city of Salina established Salina Arts and Humanities in 1966 in response to local interest in guiding and coordinating an already active cultural landscape, according to the organization’s website, salinaarts.com.

It began as a contract relationship with the city — with a part-time director and a budget of less than $10,000 — and has grown to a full city department with a 15-person staff and budget of more than $1.1 million.

Anderson’s presentation Thursday will highlight how the group’s efforts have affected tourism and helped Salina build a vibrant creative economy. Discussion will include how Salina’s efforts could be used to inform creative placemaking plans in Lawrence.

In February, the Lawrence City Commission approved designating downtown and several adjacent neighborhoods a cultural district. The Lawrence Arts Center has applied for two grants hoped to catalyze planning and realize a public art project in the area.