*Apologies for cross-posting*
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to propose the following call for papers for a session at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual Conference 2014.
Abstract:
Culture and the city: What place do the arts have in our urban spaces?
Culture, proposed T S Eliot (1948: 27), “may even be described simply as that which makes life worth living”. It is an all encompassing concept, which defines who we are and what we do. In recent times, arts and cultural activities have become critical factors in the creation of urban place- and policymaking. Key thinkers such as Florida (2002) and Landry (2008) have hailed the economic successes, which can be brought about via integrated arts and urban planning. Yet, such culture-led regeneration has had its shortcomings, specifically in cities taking a neoliberal approach, which has all too often catalysed urban gentrification. Many critiques of this have been widely published in academia (see Lees, 1994; Smith, 1996; Ley, 2003 for example) and continue to contribute to ongoing debates surrounding the roles of the arts in cities.
There is a necessary call for researchers to seek out the social exponents of participating in arts and cultural activities in cities. Indeed preceding research has been initiated by the likes of Matarasso (1997), Belfiore (2002), Shaw (2003) and Evans (2005) to name but a few. However this session will provide scholars with a platform to critically analyse current policymaking in this field. This session particularly welcomes colleagues to present recent research on the exciting possibilities, which arts and culture can have in the development of cities. Such topics may include, but are not exclusively limited to:
- Arts and cultural events – what impact do they have on city development?
- Cultural value – can culture be valued beyond existing intrinsic and instrumental models?
- In what ways do artists or arts organisations contest or negotiate gentrification?
- The community arts movement – what positive practices can be applied in a time of economic austerity?
- The function of public art – for the urban elite or the urban marginal?
- In what ways can policymakers ‘better’ inform policymaking or planning?
- What does the future hold for creative placemaking?
Instructions for Authors:
Please send abstracts and titles of proposed papers (250 words maximum) to Ciaran McDonald ([log in to unmask]) and Cara Courage ([log in to unmask]) by 14th February.
Please also include your name, institutional affiliation and contact e-mail address.
Further details:
http://conference.rgs.org/Conference/CallForPapers/View.aspx?heading=Y&session=9ce5f7a7-8124-433e-841c-f026e630bf55
Best wishes,
Ciaran McDonald
Institute for Capitalising on Creativity, University of St Andrews
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