ABOUT
Who We Are
Strengthening Community through Culture and Place.
Big Creative Consulting is the partnership of Abra Allan + Chip — two leaders with deep experience in arts, culture, and place management, and a shared belief that thriving communities start where culture meets public space.
We work with downtown districts, BIDs/PBIDs, arts organizations, and public agencies to transform ideas into outcomes that actually stick. From aligning boards and building governance tools to launching street-level activations and managing day-to-day operations, we help communities move from strategy to action.
We don’t just write reports and walk away — we embed. We co-create with you, stay engaged through implementation, and build your team’s capacity so the work becomes part of your organization’s DNA.
Who We Serve
Downtown and neighborhood districts, BIDs/PBIDs/CBD’s, arts and cultural nonprofits, community development organizations, and public agencies facing moments of growth, transition, or the need to bridge the gap between planning and street-level results
What Sets Us Apart
Strategy + Execution: Plans that are actionable and ready to run the next day.
Hands-On Partnership: Coaching, facilitation, and interim leadership when you need it.
Cultural Lens: Arts, storytelling, and events as core drivers of belonging and identity.
Operational Credibility: Public realm programs that support the goals of clean, safe, and welcoming.
Consensus Building: Processes that align boards, Stakeholders, and city partners around shared goals.
Chip
Chip is a nationally recognized Place Management Professional with more than 20 years of experience leading downtown districts. Known for his visionary approach to supporting communities “one block at a time,” Chip has guided districts through periods of major transition, revitalization, and growth.
Most recently, Chip served as Western Division Vice President for Block by Block, where he provided oversight and strategic direction for clean, safe, and welcoming operations across the western U.S. Prior to that, he was CEO of the Downtown Boulder Partnership, where he expanded ambassador programs, launched a five-year community visioning process, and steered the district through the challenges of the pandemic with innovative, inclusive strategies. Before Boulder, Chip served as Executive Director of the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, where he created dozens of beloved community events and initiatives that boosted economic vitality and strengthened community connection.
Chip also was a cofounder of The Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts and First Friday Santa Cruz, has served on numerous boards and commissions and plays surprisingly good defence for a man of his height and age.
Colleagues describe Chip as “more important to any downtown than any other executive I know,” and a leader whose “fingerprints are present in every corner of the community.” In 2023, Chip earned his Leadership in Place Management (LPM) Certification from the International Downtown Association and is evangelical about the importance of well designed and well run downtowns in preserving democracy.
Abra
Abra Allan is a visionary Executive Director and Project Manager with more than 20 years of experience driving arts, culture, and community-building initiatives. She currently leads the Market Street Arts Initiative in San Francisco, where she focuses on creative placemaking and strategic engagement in the Mid-Market neighborhood.
Abra is recognized for her rare combination of vision, drive, and the ability to bring ambitious projects to life. She founded Motion Pacific Dance and Santa Cruz Dance Week, transforming Motion Pacific from a for-profit business into a thriving nonprofit and expanding opportunities for artists and audiences alike. She also scaled Santa Cruz’s First Friday Art Tour into one of the region’s most popular monthly cultural events.
Her career spans executive leadership, campaign operations, and cultural programming — including serving as Interim Executive Director of the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, Director of Operations for the Boulder International Film Festival, and Project Manager for Boulder Arts Week.
Passionate about the power of culture to strengthen communities, Abra brings expertise in strategic planning, fundraising, community engagement, public relations, and volunteer mobilization — always with a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and building strong partnerships that bring people together.