Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata launched Seattle Art Walks, a website designed to highlight the Ballard Art Walk as well the the dozen other neighborhood art walks, Aug. 26.

Seattle Art Walks includes a neighborhood map of Seattle surrounded with the names of areas hosting art walks. Users can click the name of each neighborhood for details.

Licata said he believes art walks are important to the city's neighborhoods.

"They inspire visitors and residents to appreciate creativity within themselves and throughout their community," he said in an email. "They offer opportunities for residents and visitors to socialize and network. And, they generate revenue for creative professionals and businesses."

Licata said the high number of art walks in Seattle represents the city's high overall creative vitality rating. A 2007 Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs report ranks Seattle's overall creative vitality at roughly six times the national average, he said.