What is the role of culture in contemporary urban life? Can culture function as an urban planning tool for indi- vidual and social well-being? Two elements are of special relevance in this regard: cultural vibrancy in terms of level of initiative in policies, use of facilities and activities, and individual and social propensities towards the participation in, and consumption of, cultural activities and goods. This paper takes the recent path of research on the impact of cultural participation on the social and economic sustainability of urban processes, with a specific focus on the individual subjective well-being dimension. Two Italian cities, one endowed with a high stock of cultural facilities, activities, and access (Bolzano/Bozen) and the other with a comparatively much lower stock in all respects (Siracusa), are examined. Comparative analysis suggests that the impact of culture on subjective well-being in a context of high cultural supply and substantial cultural participation is much more relevant with respect to low-endowment and low-participation cases, thus suggesting the possibility of a culture/well-being positive feedback dynamics leading to urban ‘cultural poverty traps’. On the basis of these results, we draw some implications for cultural policy design in urban contexts.

The contribution of cultural participation to urban well-being. A comparative study in Bolzano/Bozen and Siracusa, Italy, 2016.

The contribution of cultural participation to urban well-being. A comparative study in Bolzano/Bozen and Siracusa, Italy

TAVANO BLESSI , GIORGIO;SACCO, PIERLUIGI;FERILLI , GUIDO
2016-01-01

Abstract

What is the role of culture in contemporary urban life? Can culture function as an urban planning tool for indi- vidual and social well-being? Two elements are of special relevance in this regard: cultural vibrancy in terms of level of initiative in policies, use of facilities and activities, and individual and social propensities towards the participation in, and consumption of, cultural activities and goods. This paper takes the recent path of research on the impact of cultural participation on the social and economic sustainability of urban processes, with a specific focus on the individual subjective well-being dimension. Two Italian cities, one endowed with a high stock of cultural facilities, activities, and access (Bolzano/Bozen) and the other with a comparatively much lower stock in all respects (Siracusa), are examined. Comparative analysis suggests that the impact of culture on subjective well-being in a context of high cultural supply and substantial cultural participation is much more relevant with respect to low-endowment and low-participation cases, thus suggesting the possibility of a culture/well-being positive feedback dynamics leading to urban ‘cultural poverty traps’. On the basis of these results, we draw some implications for cultural policy design in urban contexts.
Inglese
2016
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275115001626
Elsevier
50
1
216
226
11
Netherlands
internazionale
esperti anonimi
con ISI Impact Factor
A stampa
Settore SECS-P/02 - Politica Economica
Settore SECS-P/06 - Economia Applicata
5
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10808/13439
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