Abstract
Urban development has always been marked by the dialectics of ideals projected from the top down or build up from the bottom up: our present fascination for cultural districts derives from the glamour of some historic precedents and contemporary paradigms. Compared to successful international models, such as the so-called ‘Bilbao effect’, other specific examples in Spain and abroad appear rather controversial. The debates and the academic production on this topic are always growing, especially after the publications by Richard Florida about the impact of the `creative class’. But the success or failure of the creative sector should not be analysed only from its economic paybacks; it seems obvious that the study of arts-led urban revitalization must be researched as well taking into account intrinsic elements within the arts sector. Drawing on case studies and arguments developed in the framework of an ongoing research project, it is intended to produce a redefinition of a ‘cultural district’ as a specific urban area with a high density of cultural agents and activities, where the arts can play a key role.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
MUSEUMS, PUBLIC ART, ARTISTS
