In english

Interview with Franco Bianchini

Franco Bianchini is Professor and Director of Research at Leicester and Leeds Universities. He specialises in cultural and urban policy. He is also deeply involved in the “Cities on the edge” programme, the cities network initiated by Liverpool, European Capital of Culture in 2008, together with Marseille, Bremen, Gdansk, Istanbul and Naples. Franco Bianchini is convinced that it is usually at the edges of a city that innovation and a feeling of centrality are generated.

“Cities on the Edge is the most Europe-oriented programme in Liverpool for 2008,” Franco Bianchini told us. “It was set up in 2004 and includes six port cities that all have a very strong sense of identity and experience very similar problems, especially in terms of image. They all have economic problems and have highly ambiguous, not to say conflict-ridden relationships with the capital of the country in which they are located.”

In Franco Bianchini’s eyes, being on the edge is often synonymous with trend-setting and innovation. “We have explored the concept of “cities on the edge” in political, geographical, social and artistic terms. We began with the idea of an opera. Then we held a series of lectures on crime, interculturality, setting up programmes on “rebel reading”, urban music and the theatre of immigration, among other subjects. We have also developed a project called “Street philosophy” involving people that live and work on the streets: prostitutes, taxi drivers, street hawkers, etc. The Marseille film director, Thierry Aguila, is currently shooting a film on football supporters and their passionate, practically religious relationship with the game. Other projects will be launched in 2009, to be led by Marseille. After that, it will be Istanbul’s turn in 2010, followed by Bremen and Gdansk in 2011 and Naples in 2012.”

Listen: A brief overview of the Cities on the Edge programme and some of the past and future events and projects, taken from an interview with Franco Bianchini

 

 The Cities on the Edge programme, details by Franco Bianchini [in English-4 mins 57]: Play Now | Play in Popup

However, the relationship between artists working “on the edge” and the mass public / major national event aspects of being a European capital of culture has not always been a bed of roses. Franco Bianchini is not one to mince his words: “There is certainly a risk, for lots of reasons. Insofar as concerns Liverpool 2008, the departure, back in 2006, of the Artistic Director caused problems as to who would takeover Artistic Direction of the event. This situation had a very negative effect on working relations with local operators. To my mind, the final programme includes too many projects from outside Liverpool. Furthermore, in many of the other European capitals of culture, alternative programmes have been organised and this is not the case in Liverpool.” After all, the event is meant to be much more that just a showcase for national institutions and the tourist industry. “There are some very interesting projects that add to the artistic renown of the city. Apparently, Liverpool has become a very attractive place for artists to come to and work. And lots of young people who study Arts subjects here now staying in the city rather than leaving to work elsewhere.”

Listen: Franco Bianchini describes the uneasy relationship between artists in the Cities on the Edge network, who are working “on the edge”, and the major national event aspects of being a European capital of culture.

 Download  Extract from an interview with Franco Bianchini [in English - 1 min33]

Fred Kahn

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