Current Issues in International Cultural Policy

This class addresses the issue of the ultimate ‘ends’ or rationales of cultural policy, both instrumental and intrinsic.

Cultural policy is premised on assumptions about causal relationships between expenditure, legislation, exhortation and other levers of power and influence and specific outcome.

The synergies between the commercial, the unincorporated and non-profit cultural sectors and the extent of movement of individuals and intellectual property between them.

Many trends in cultural creation and consumption have been and continue to be profoundly influenced by globalization. As we enter another chapter in the evolution of world economy, what trends are likely to dominate and how are they likely to affect cultural provision?

Mapping the impact and the grounds for predicting how changes in the leisure market and in technology are going to affect further the composition and structure of cultural sector.

The 501(c)(3) model is critically dependent upon a capital market that is philanthropic rather than commercial in character, highly circumscribed in its operation, and in which investment decisions are not informed by the ‘rational self-interest’ of neo-classical economics.

What has driven the level of investment in physical assets? How has it been financed? What are the long-term implications for the vitality of cultural sector?

This session reviews briefly the arguments and conclusions of the proceeding classes and seek to address the question: what constitutes a vibrant ecology; what contribution can and should government make to support that ecology; and why?

Celebrating the 25th years of the Research Center for Arts and Culture