1st Edition

The Value of Arts and Culture for Regional Development A Scandinavian Perspective

Edited By Lisbeth Lindeborg, Lars Lindkvist Copyright 2013
    384 Pages 30 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    384 Pages 30 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    In this new volume, 28 Scandinavian researchers and others who are active in arts and culture seek to answer the questions: What has been the effect of regional and local investment in arts and culture? And what positive and negative experiences have there been? This book describes and analyzes the extent to which cultural investments at local and regional levels have stimulated development and led to essential processes of change for the community in general.

    Of special interest is how different places manage to "turn the tide". What do their development processes involve? Which ways and means do they use to go forward in order to change their paths and start anew? These are just a few of the important questions addressed in this book. One of the most important findings is that while you can never transfer the successful renewal of one place to another like a blueprint, certain common patterns in the cultural processes are discernible.

    The contributors to this book show the breadth of theoretical tools that can be used to increase awareness of the significance of culture for regional development. Throughout the book readers will find a multitude of theoretical concepts, from entrepreneurship theory, organizational institutionalism and cultural economy, to cultural planning and art management. This book will appeal to scholars and practitioners of urban and regional studies, and cultural and creative economics.

    1. Introduction 2. Denmark 3. Norway 4. Finland 5. Sweden 6. Cross-border Regions 7. Conclusion

    Biography

    Lisbeth Lindeborg is Guest Professor at Linnæus University, Sweden. She has published extensively on regional and cultural development, regional co-operation, regional organizations and the arts.

    Lars Lindkvist is Professor in Business Administration, Organisation and Leadership at Linnæus University, Sweden, and is also Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. He has published more than 50 books and scientific articles, mainly about social economy, self management and leadership in public and non-profit organizations, and cultural and creative industries.

    'The extensive series of contributions to this volume provide a unique Scandinavian perspective on the contribution of the arts and culture to regional development. The book will be of interest not just to scholars, planners, local government officials and others working in the Nordic countries, but to researchers anywhere in the world who are concerned with evaluating investment in the cultural sector in an urban and regional context.'David Throsby, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Macquarie University, Sydney

    'This book offers a new understanding of the effects of the arts and culture on regional and local development. The authors present a comprehensive analysis of festivals, museums and creative industries. They illustrate their issues with a great variety of Scandinavian case studies. In a context of deep economic crisis, they provide an excellent analysis of the way culture can increase social well-being. The book helps to evaluate the respective weight of private initiative and public support. The authors do not hesitate to stress the positive impact of culture and its limits. The book is original, insightful and deserves to be read by students, scholars, and practitioners as well.'Françoise Benhamou, Professor of Economics, Paris 13 University, and Commissioner at ARCEP (Independent regulator of the French communications industries)