Cities of Culture

This book examines the role of cultural planning in urban development, focusing on the concept of the 'creative city' and its global implications.

Culture has become a central focus in urban policy and re-profiling agendas across cities worldwide. The rise of city-based cultural planning, which emphasizes creativity in various forms, has emerged as a key local policy initiative. The concept of the 'creative city' has gained traction, becoming somewhat of an urban imaging cliché. Numerous local blueprints for cultural planning and creative cities have surfaced, with support from supranational organizations like the European Union and UNESCO, which encourage the integration of culture into strategies aimed at revitalizing urban economies and distinguishing places from one another.

Cities of Culture highlights significant trends in cultural planning since its inception, analyzing key discourses and influential manifestos that circulate globally. It delves into how these ideas are interpreted and implemented in specific locations, drawing on examples from Europe, Australia, Asia, and North America. The book provides a comprehensive look at urban cultural strategies, emphasizing the regularities, tensions, and intersections that arise, as well as the fundamental assumptions that underpin these initiatives.

This exploration addresses the widespread belief that cultural planning can yield diverse social, economic, urban, and creative benefits. It serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars in urban sociology, urban studies, cultural policy studies, and human geography, offering insights into the complexities and possibilities of cultural initiatives in urban settings.