Culture - led Urban Development in Liepaja and Cesis: Planning for Urban Shrinkage
Author
Kirilko, Elina
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-06-08
Pages
154
Abstract
Mange byer bruger i dag kultur som drivkraft i byudvikling, fordi man forventer både økonomiske og sociale gevinster. Dette speciale undersøger kulturdrevet byudvikling i en udbredt ramme: bymæssig tilbagegang, hvor byer mister indbyggere og arbejdspladser – et fænomen, der præger mange byer i det post-socialistiske Europa (lande der har gennemgået en overgang fra socialisme). I planlægningsdebatten ses kulturdrevet byudvikling både som en vækstorienteret strategi og som et middel til at håndtere tilbagegang. For at se, hvordan dette fungerer i praksis, analyserer specialet to lettiske byer, Cēsis og Liepāja, der begge har satset på lokale koncertsale samtidig med, at de oplever tilbagegang. Med en multikausal tilgang, der ser på flere overlappende årsager, undersøger specialet, hvilken planlægningstilgang disse projekter udtrykker, og hvilke kritiske aspekter de synliggør. Hovedspørgsmålet er: Hvordan afspejler de kulturdrevne byudviklingsprojekter i Liepāja og Cēsis den lokale håndtering af bymæssig tilbagegang i en post-socialistisk kontekst, og hvad viser deres kritiske aspekter?
Today, many cities use culture as a driver of urban development because it is expected to deliver economic and social benefits. This thesis examines culture-led urban development within the widespread context of urban shrinkage—cities losing residents and jobs—which affects many cities in post-socialist Europe (countries that have transitioned from socialism). In planning debates, culture-led strategies are seen both as growth-oriented tools and as ways to manage decline. To see how this works in practice, the study looks at two Latvian cities, Cēsis and Liepāja, which have invested in local concert halls while facing shrinkage. Using a multi-causal perspective that considers overlapping causes, the thesis explores what planning approach these projects represent and what critical issues they bring to light. The guiding question is: How do the culture-led developments in Liepāja and Cēsis reflect local strategies for dealing with urban shrinkage in a post-socialist context, and what do their key critical aspects represent?
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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