The Institute of Cultural Capital has just published its final report  on the AHRC-funded Cultural Cities Research Network, which was formed in March 2011 to discuss the impact of bidding for the UK City of Culture 2013 title. Network members included different individuals and communities involved with or interested in the bidding process from the three shortlisted cities of Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield, such as local authority representatives, academic researchers, arts and cultural organisations, plus other businesses, services and professions across public, private and voluntary sectors. Funded under the cross-council Connected Communities initiative, the network has considered what connects cities during the shared experience of bidding for cultural titles, including situated contexts, motivations and expectations, and the impact of bidding upon the policy-making process; the role of the creative economy in city strategies; and connections between different communities.

 

In a balanced consideration of the bidding process, findings indicate that the competition acted as a powerful catalyst in galvanising cities to think more strategically about their cultural offer, identity and heritage within a national context and in comparison to other drivers. Connections between relevant [professional] communities of practice and interest are strengthened considerably; there are limits however to the extent to which different residential, cultural or social communities become engaged at the bidding stages. Risks associated with bidding for high-profile cultural titles are also outlined – highlighting considerations for future bidding cities and those inspired by the ‘promise’ of culture-led regeneration. Network members identified a number of learning outcomes and recommendations for the UK City of Culture advisory panel,  and emerging research questions on dimensions of the ‘cultural city’ including issues of cultural entitlement, collaboration, place-making and leadership.

The network was led by LJMU’s Kerry Wilson (Principal Investigator), Head of Research at the Institute of Cultural Capital, in association with Co-investigators David O’Brien of City University London and Ian Grosvenor of the University of Birmingham. Regional events throughout 2011, including three full-day research seminars, were supported by partners Sheffield City Council, Norwich City Council and Birmingham City Council. The final network event took place on 22^nd May 2012 at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, where the outcomes of regional discussions were shared with the wider academic community. Panel members including Dr Jonathan Vickery, University of Warwick; Dr Roberta Comunian, University of Kent; Dr Oliver Mould, University of Salford; and Dr Peter Campbell, University of Liverpool, gave insightful responses drawing upon their own research on cultural policy and creative industries.

> Click for the final report  It’s not the Winning: Reconsidering the Cultural City –

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