Cultural policy design: principles and cases

Students will be introduced into a comprehensive conceptual framework for cultural policy analysis and design, working at the same time on theoretical constructs and case studies, and learning how to synergize between them. A special emphasis will be placed on the practical implementation and sustainability of projects and on their ex post evaluation.

No specific prerequisites for this course.

I. Alternative paradigms for the relationship between cultural production and economics
1. Culture 1.0, 2.0, 3.0: basic conceptual framework
2. Culture 1.0: classical patronage
3. Culture 1.1: strategic patronage
4. Culture 1.2: public patronage
5. The transition between the patronage system and the cultural industry paradigm
6. Culture 2.0: proto-cultural industry
7. Culture 2.1: mature cultural industry
8. Culture 2.2: cultural industry and the subcultural worlds
9. The transition between the cultural industries and the open platforms paradigm
10. Culture 3.0: the current scenario
11. The way ahead: Culture 3.1
12. Implications for EU cultural strategies

II. System wide cultural districts: theory and case studies
1. System wide cultural districts as the theoretical platform for culture-led local development
2. System wide cultural districts and Culture 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0
3. The 12 characteristic dimensions: an introduction
4. The Quality factors for culture-led development
5. The Attraction factors for culture-led development
6. The Local Assets factors for culture-led development
7. The Sociality factors for culture-led development
8. The Networking factors for culture-led development
9. Principles of cultural policy design
10. Analysis of cases: local governance as the critical factor
11. Analysis of cases: capabilities as the critical factor
12. Summing up and some considerations about the future of cultural policy design in Europe

At the end of the course, students will have the elements to analyze and to develop basic examples of cultural policy design with reference to the contexts of their professional interests, also with a view to the EU cultural policy agenda.

• Belfiore, E. & Bennett, O. (2010). Beyond the ‘toolkit approach’: arts impact evaluation research and the realities of cultural policy-making. Journal for Cultural Research 14, 121-142. E-version
• Garcia, B. (2004). Urban regeneration, arts programming and major events. Glasgow 1990, Sydney 2000 and Barcelona 2004. International Journal of Cultural Policy 10, 103-118.
• Peck, J. (2005). Struggling with the creative class. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 29, 740-770.
• Pratt, A. (2010). Creative cities: tensions within and between social, cultural and economic development. A critical reading of the UK experience. City, Culture and Society 1, 13-20. E-version
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G. & Tavano Blessi, G. (2011). Culture 3.0: A new perspective for the EU 2014-2020 strucgural funds programming. European Expert Network on Culture, Barcelona. E-version
• Sacco, P.L. & Crociata, A. (2013). A conceptual regulatory framework for the design and evaluation of complex, participative cultural planning strategies. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 37, 1688-1706.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., Tavano Blessi, G. & Nuccio, M. (2013a). Culture as an engine of local development proceses: System-wide cultural districts. I: Theory. Growth and Change 44, 555-570.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., Tavano Blessi, G. & Nuccio, M. (2013b). Culture as an engine of local development proceses: System-wide cultural districts. II: Prototype cases. Growth and Change 44, 571-588.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G. & Tavano Blessi, G. (2014). Understanding culture-led local development: A critique of alternative theoretical explanations. Urban Studies 51, 2806-2821. E-version
• Sacco, P.L. & Tavano Blessi, G. (2007). European Culture Capitals and local development strategies: Comparing the Genoa and Lille 2004 cases. Homo Oeconomicus 24, 111-141.

Valuation of assignments. Open discussion with professor and students. 50/50

Prof. dr. Pier Luigi Sacco is a full professor of Cultural Economics at IULM University, Milan, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Markets, and Heritage since September 2011. He also teaches Creative Industries at the University of Italian Switzerland (USI), Lugano. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the European University Institute. Sacco is the author of more than 150 papers published in prestigious international journals and edited books on economic theory, game theory, cultural economics, cultural and creative industries, and cultural policy design at urban, regional, and national levels.

He contributes to publications such as Il Sole 24 Ore, Saturno, and Flash Art. Sacco is the president of the scientific committee of the International Festival of Contemporary Art, Faenza, and the president of the Cultural Observatory of Marche Region. He also serves as a member of the scientific committee of the Italian National Library, Florence. He is a research associate at the Semeion Research Center, Rome, and a member of the editorial boards of several journals, including the Creative Industries Journal, Mind and Society, Quality and Quantity, Journal of Marketing at Retail, and Economia della Cultura. Sacco is an international keynote speaker, lecturer, and consultant for governments, local administrations, and cultural institutions on culture-led local development and the European Culture Capitals Programs.

Selected Publications:
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., & Tavano Blessi, G. (2011). Culture 3.0: A new perspective for the EU 2014-2020 structural funds programming. European Expert Network on Culture, Barcelona.
• Sacco, P.L., & Crociata, A. (2013). A conceptual regulatory framework for the design and evaluation of complex, participative cultural planning strategies. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 37, 1688-1706.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., Tavano Blessi, G., & Nuccio, M. (2013a). Culture as an engine of local development processes: System-wide cultural districts. I: Theory. Growth and Change, 44, 555-570.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., Tavano Blessi, G., & Nuccio, M. (2013b). Culture as an engine of local development processes: System-wide cultural districts. II: Prototype cases. Growth and Change, 44, 571-588.
• Sacco, P.L., Ferilli, G., & Tavano Blessi, G. (2014). Understanding culture-led local development: A critique of alternative theoretical explanations. Urban Studies, 51, 2806-2821.
• Sacco, P.L., & Tavano Blessi, G. (2007). European Culture Capitals and local development strategies: Comparing the Genoa and Lille 2004 cases. Homo Oeconomicus, 24, 111-141.