'The role of arts and culture in the regeneration of urban places and urban communities' - Critical Review
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Sch of Sociology and Social Policy
Abstract
This project will produce a critical review of the current knowledge base concerning the role of arts and culture in the regeneration of urban places and communities. Its key objective is to review a wide range of existing research in order to better understand the myriad ways in which arts and culture are seen as capable of achieving 'urban regeneration', and the ways in which 'cultural value' is constructed in research which seeks to evaluate this regeneration.
A typology will be created which will combine:
- An assessment of the diverse forms of cultural value which 'regenerative' activities seek to create (is 'regeneration', for example, achieved by intervening in the built environment? Promoting new cultural businesses? Increasing tourism? Attracting new audiences? Encouraging 'grassroots' community activity?)
- An examination of the methodological approaches taken in assessing this value (are audience surveys carried out? Participants interviewed? Expert opinion sought? Economic impact statements created?)
- A critique of the efficacy of these approaches (who uses these research findings? What arguments do they support? Are these robust?)
In critically assessing methodological approaches to evidence-gathering, this project thus seeks to examine how particular constructions of value in the discourse concerning culture and urban regeneration are formulated with reference to a range of influential contextual factors (including public policy, the type of arts and cultural activity being evaluated, the circumstances of the commissioning of research, and the available resources to develop evidence). It also aims to identify existing strengths and weaknesses (or gaps) in current understanding, and suggest ways in which improved understanding may be achieved, and so articulate a more nuanced understanding of the factors at play in understanding the role of 'culture' in urban regeneration.
Crucially, this reviewing process seeks to understand interventions in this area not just from a critical theoretical and methodological perspective, but also from a practitioner viewpoint. As so much evidence gathering occurs beyond the realms of the academy, sustained engagement with evaluations and other documentary evidence produced by external practitioners throughout the project is considered to be vital to achieving a rounded understanding of this area, and also in ensuring that the findings from this project are disseminated beyond the academic context.
A typology will be created which will combine:
- An assessment of the diverse forms of cultural value which 'regenerative' activities seek to create (is 'regeneration', for example, achieved by intervening in the built environment? Promoting new cultural businesses? Increasing tourism? Attracting new audiences? Encouraging 'grassroots' community activity?)
- An examination of the methodological approaches taken in assessing this value (are audience surveys carried out? Participants interviewed? Expert opinion sought? Economic impact statements created?)
- A critique of the efficacy of these approaches (who uses these research findings? What arguments do they support? Are these robust?)
In critically assessing methodological approaches to evidence-gathering, this project thus seeks to examine how particular constructions of value in the discourse concerning culture and urban regeneration are formulated with reference to a range of influential contextual factors (including public policy, the type of arts and cultural activity being evaluated, the circumstances of the commissioning of research, and the available resources to develop evidence). It also aims to identify existing strengths and weaknesses (or gaps) in current understanding, and suggest ways in which improved understanding may be achieved, and so articulate a more nuanced understanding of the factors at play in understanding the role of 'culture' in urban regeneration.
Crucially, this reviewing process seeks to understand interventions in this area not just from a critical theoretical and methodological perspective, but also from a practitioner viewpoint. As so much evidence gathering occurs beyond the realms of the academy, sustained engagement with evaluations and other documentary evidence produced by external practitioners throughout the project is considered to be vital to achieving a rounded understanding of this area, and also in ensuring that the findings from this project are disseminated beyond the academic context.
Planned Impact
This section not required under the terms and conditions of the call. Please see attached case for support.
Publications
Campbell P
(2016)
The social life of measurement: how methods have shaped the idea of culture in urban regeneration
in Journal of Cultural Economy
Campbell Peter
(2019)
Persistent Creativity: Making the Case for Art, Culture and the Creative Industries
Description | The research successfully reviewed the evidence produced regarding the role culture may play in regenerating urban locations and produced 2 typologies explaining the form this evidence takes. Firstly, a typology of the ways in which interventions may seek to achieve 'regenerative' outcomes, and secondly a typology of methods employed for evaluating programmes, outlining the different data sources and approaches to analysis commonly employed. The research considered how far such evaluations establish whether regenerative outcomes have been achieved and identified a number of shortfalls in this area. As such, a number of common challenges and contextual issues were identified to attempt to explain the quality of evidence currently available. Finally, the research evaluated what possibilities there are for improving the current state of knowledge production, and likely future directions in this area. |
Exploitation Route | By clearly outlining current practice with regards to the employment of methods for capturing the outcomes of cultural programmes, and outlining potential areas for improvement, this report may serve to improve practice in this field. |
Sectors | Creative Economy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | http://repository.liv.ac.uk/2035440/ |
Description | Preliminary findings have been shared with contacts in the Arts Council, and the research was conducted in collaboration with an external partner, ensuring that good practice is fed into the practitioner field. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | ICCPR 2014 presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to international conference of cultural practitioners, policymakers and academics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Presentation to Arts Council |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Exchange of information regarding evidence-gathering practice Mutual awareness of practice |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |