Exploring implicit and explicit cultural policy dimensions through major-event and neoliberal rhetoric

Rafaela Neiva Ganga; Nicholas Wise; Marko Perić

doi:10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100401

Exploring implicit and explicit cultural policy dimensions through major-event and neoliberal rhetoric

Rafaela Neiva Ganga, Nicholas Wise, Marko Perić

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper is conceptually positions the emergence of the neoliberal city in the context of transitions to late-capitalism. The aim of this study is to understand intersections between explicit and implicit cultural policy dimensions focusing on the Rijeka2020 programme as intended and how it was restructured as a response to COVID-19. Through cultural policy analysis, this ex-ante qualitative case study of the Rijeka2020 programme illuminates overlapping explicit and implicit policy priorities of the ECoC—offering a unique insight into what could potentially be the future of the European cultural policy. Rijeka2020 can be seen as a changing point amidst different rhetoric, analysed around three themes (regeneration, legacy, and participation). Results examine how Rijeka's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was shy on creative industry oriented programming, yet reinforced through capital cultural infrastructural projects. Through attempts to avoid event-led spectacle, officials planned to engage more at the neighbourhood-scale using participatory art practices that concentrated on capacity building. Important take-away points address shifts from culture-oriented regeneration to local participatory art practices is a step towards reconstructing the cultural sector upstream (based on production) and downstream (through reception).

Original language	English (US)
Article number	100401
Journal	City, Culture and Society
Volume	27
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100401
State	Published - Dec 2021

Keywords

COVID-19
Cultural legacy
Culture-led regeneration
European Capital of Culture
European policy
Rijeka 2020
Urban events

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Social Sciences
Urban Studies
Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous)

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10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100401

Cite this

@article{95e39154002c45e9bccf5e798bdadecd,

title = "Exploring implicit and explicit cultural policy dimensions through major-event and neoliberal rhetoric",

abstract = "This paper is conceptually positions the emergence of the neoliberal city in the context of transitions to late-capitalism. The aim of this study is to understand intersections between explicit and implicit cultural policy dimensions focusing on the Rijeka2020 programme as intended and how it was restructured as a response to COVID-19. Through cultural policy analysis, this ex-ante qualitative case study of the Rijeka2020 programme illuminates overlapping explicit and implicit policy priorities of the ECoC—offering a unique insight into what could potentially be the future of the European cultural policy. Rijeka2020 can be seen as a changing point amidst different rhetoric, analysed around three themes (regeneration, legacy, and participation). Results examine how Rijeka's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was shy on creative industry oriented programming, yet reinforced through capital cultural infrastructural projects. Through attempts to avoid event-led spectacle, officials planned to engage more at the neighbourhood-scale using participatory art practices that concentrated on capacity building. Important take-away points address shifts from culture-oriented regeneration to local participatory art practices is a step towards reconstructing the cultural sector upstream (based on production) and downstream (through reception).",

keywords = "COVID-19, Cultural legacy, Culture-led regeneration, European Capital of Culture, European policy, Rijeka 2020, Urban events",

author = "Ganga, {Rafaela Neiva} and Nicholas Wise and Marko Peri{\'c}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Liverpool John Moores University , Liverpool Business School, Quality Research Funding, £2000, duration of the research project: 3 months, 2019. Funding Information: Rijeka2020's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was reinforced by implementing capital cultural infrastructural projects ( Sacco & Vella, 2017 ) supported by EU funds to catalyse urban improvements—thereby fulfilling ECoC operational and infrastructural improvement objectives. Not surprising, this champions neoliberal creative city rhetoric, as alluded to by FG2: {\textquoteleft}investing in culture, it's something that will be a good return on investment{\textquoteright}. This arguably contributes to the detachment of cultural values for the public good in exchange for socially spatial and temporary circumscribed economic impacts ( O'Brien, 2014 ). Although Rijeka's bid was shy on creative industry oriented programming, even the COVID-19 restructuring preserved creative city neoliberal rhetoric fuelled by culture-led urban regeneration. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100401",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "27",

journal = "City, Culture and Society",

issn = "1877-9166",

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T1 - Exploring implicit and explicit cultural policy dimensions through major-event and neoliberal rhetoric

AU - Ganga, Rafaela Neiva

AU - Wise, Nicholas

AU - Perić, Marko

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Liverpool John Moores University , Liverpool Business School, Quality Research Funding, £2000, duration of the research project: 3 months, 2019. Funding Information: Rijeka2020's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was reinforced by implementing capital cultural infrastructural projects ( Sacco & Vella, 2017 ) supported by EU funds to catalyse urban improvements—thereby fulfilling ECoC operational and infrastructural improvement objectives. Not surprising, this champions neoliberal creative city rhetoric, as alluded to by FG2: ‘investing in culture, it's something that will be a good return on investment’. This arguably contributes to the detachment of cultural values for the public good in exchange for socially spatial and temporary circumscribed economic impacts ( O'Brien, 2014 ). Although Rijeka's bid was shy on creative industry oriented programming, even the COVID-19 restructuring preserved creative city neoliberal rhetoric fuelled by culture-led urban regeneration. Publisher Copyright: © 2021

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - This paper is conceptually positions the emergence of the neoliberal city in the context of transitions to late-capitalism. The aim of this study is to understand intersections between explicit and implicit cultural policy dimensions focusing on the Rijeka2020 programme as intended and how it was restructured as a response to COVID-19. Through cultural policy analysis, this ex-ante qualitative case study of the Rijeka2020 programme illuminates overlapping explicit and implicit policy priorities of the ECoC—offering a unique insight into what could potentially be the future of the European cultural policy. Rijeka2020 can be seen as a changing point amidst different rhetoric, analysed around three themes (regeneration, legacy, and participation). Results examine how Rijeka's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was shy on creative industry oriented programming, yet reinforced through capital cultural infrastructural projects. Through attempts to avoid event-led spectacle, officials planned to engage more at the neighbourhood-scale using participatory art practices that concentrated on capacity building. Important take-away points address shifts from culture-oriented regeneration to local participatory art practices is a step towards reconstructing the cultural sector upstream (based on production) and downstream (through reception).

AB - This paper is conceptually positions the emergence of the neoliberal city in the context of transitions to late-capitalism. The aim of this study is to understand intersections between explicit and implicit cultural policy dimensions focusing on the Rijeka2020 programme as intended and how it was restructured as a response to COVID-19. Through cultural policy analysis, this ex-ante qualitative case study of the Rijeka2020 programme illuminates overlapping explicit and implicit policy priorities of the ECoC—offering a unique insight into what could potentially be the future of the European cultural policy. Rijeka2020 can be seen as a changing point amidst different rhetoric, analysed around three themes (regeneration, legacy, and participation). Results examine how Rijeka's culture-led urban regeneration agenda was shy on creative industry oriented programming, yet reinforced through capital cultural infrastructural projects. Through attempts to avoid event-led spectacle, officials planned to engage more at the neighbourhood-scale using participatory art practices that concentrated on capacity building. Important take-away points address shifts from culture-oriented regeneration to local participatory art practices is a step towards reconstructing the cultural sector upstream (based on production) and downstream (through reception).

KW - COVID-19

KW - Cultural legacy

KW - Culture-led regeneration

KW - European Capital of Culture

KW - European policy

KW - Rijeka 2020

KW - Urban events

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DO - 10.1016/j.ccs.2021.100401

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AN - SCOPUS:85112051008

SN - 1877-9166

VL - 27

JO - City, Culture and Society

JF - City, Culture and Society

M1 - 100401

ER -

Exploring implicit and explicit cultural policy dimensions through major-event and neoliberal rhetoric

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