| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5048464 | City, Culture and Society | 2011 | 7 Pages |
This article examines four defining characteristics of city cultural policy: (1) the concentration of cultural resources in downtowns and cultural districts; (2) a policy infrastructure focused on nonprofit organizations, cultural industries and tourism; (3) the narrow policy scope and political influence of city-level cultural agencies; and (4) the decentralized and under-institutionalized authority and oversight in the public cultural sector. The article traces the impacts of these characteristics on cultural development and the cultural life of neighborhoods, arguing that when city cultural agencies do not consciously and actively incorporate communities and their needs into cultural development, their policies and programs can in fact conflict with and threaten the cultural health of urban neighborhoods.The article concludes that in order to foster a more coordinated and holistic approach to developing and managing neighborhood cultural life: (1) cultural development must be purposefully dedicated to supporting the diverse cultural lives of city residents; (2) cities should designate an agency responsible for supporting neighborhood cultural life, invest in neighborhood cultural asset mapping, and plan for ways to promote identified cultural assets; (3) licensing and permitting of cultural activities should be governed by codified, transparent processes overseen by a cultural agency accountable to both the cultural sector and neighborhoods; (4) public sector cultural agencies should be better integrated into decision-making and implementation of policies that impact cultural activity; and (5) in some cities, a central cultural authority should be designated.
⺠Cultural development should be dedicated to supporting the diverse cultural lives of residents. ⺠A designated agency should support neighborhood cultural life, asset mapping, and planning. ⺠Licensing and permitting of cultural activities should be codified, transparent and accountable. ⺠Public sector cultural agencies should be better integrated into city-wide policy processes. ⺠Some cities should designate a cultural agency with centralized authority.
