In english

The impact of European Capitals of Culture

Impact 08 is a research programme set up as part of Liverpool 2008, European Capital of Culture. The idea is to assess the long-term effects of such an event…
Beatriz Garcia, the programme manager, recently came to Marseille. Invited by Marseille Provence 2013, she met a variety of operators (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marseille, ARCADE, town planning offices for the urban areas of Marseille and Toulon, etc.) with a view to keeping dialogue open into the crucial issues surrounding the assessment of cultural events.

Listen: an interview with Beatriz Garcia, conducted by Fred Kahn and Célia Pascaud, presenting the Impact 08 programme

 

 Beatriz Garcia presents the Impact 08 research programme [in French - 3mn01]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Impact 08 is a study programme focussing on the effects Liverpool 2008 had, not just on the town, but on its inhabitants… “This action was set up at the initiative of the local authorities and is coordinated by two universities, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moore’s University”, explains Beatriz Garcia, programme manager. “This academic dimension lends the approach a certain credibility whilst ensuring it remains independent. The programme was launched when Liverpool was selected as European Capital of Culture. It will run for at least 5 years, from 2005 to 2010, and aims to combine the principles of research with on-the-field work”. In addition, it is a global approach that pools multiple cultural, social, economic and environmental parameters.
This approach is vital since relatively few assessment studies of this kind have been conducted into European Capitals of Culture. Only two significant studies of this kind have been conducted, the most important being the report conducted by Robert Palmer concerning European Capitals of Culture between 1994 and 2004. But, as Beatriz Garcia explains, “These documents stress the lack of reliable comparative data. Since the time they went to print, the assessment issue has been granted greater consideration. But shared, common reference frameworks are still lacking if we are to successfully compare different situations”.
Impact 08 intends to create an evaluation model that could be adopted by other large-scale events, including future European Capitals of Culture. This is why Marseille Provence 2013 is especially interested by this initiative. This research programme develops a highly complex methodology, combining objective-related, quantitative and statistical indicators with more qualitative and sensitive elements.

Listen: Beatriz Garcia stresses the need to place the data collected in context, with more qualitative research
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The importance of qualitative indicators in the Impact 08 programme [in French – 2mn03]

Impact 08 does not focus uniquely on the number of tourists or the number of jobs created. The study also aims to evaluate more subjective repercussions affecting the image and the identity of the town. “We are conducting many interviews to assess how this event has changed cultural approaches. We are establishing studies per district to understand how a European Capital can transform the quality of life of its inhabitants. We have thus assessed the impacts in terms of the extent to which local people were involved and implicated in the event. Studies showed that the desire to get involved on a voluntary basis to develop the city resulted in people focussing on artistic activities. We have also studied changes in the manner in which artists and cultural operators are working together with the local population.” Media coverage of the event is also analysed. This does not mean counting how many times Liverpool is mentioned in the media, but rather to decipher how media representations of the town have changed and what role culture plays in transforming negative stereotypes.
It is obvious that the issues surrounding a European Capital of Culture are not limited to the cultural field. “The title of European City of Culture is increasingly used as a means to position a city at an international level,” adds Beatriz Garcia. The risk of exploiting artistic creation for promotional ends does exist. “But the artists are present and benefit from this event to enhance their profile and improve communication about their work.”

Listen: Beatriz Garcia tackles the issue of the exploitation risk by economic players.
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The risk of exploitation for promotional gain and the scope for action in the cultural sector [in French – 1mn30]

Beatriz Garcia hopes that the results of this study will lead to changes in cultural policies, and that it will be used to establish reference points, methodologies and priorities in terms of artistic development, in Liverpool and across Europe as a whole.
Work remains to be done to ensure that this research is promoted beyond academic circles, so the general public can also benefit from its insight. “We are striving to increase awareness amongst the general public,” confirms the Impact 08 manager, “we have set up a contributions page on our website, we participate in discussion forums and we regularly put on public presentations of our results“.

Interview conducted by Fred Kahn (texts) and Célia Pascaud (audio)

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