Cultural and Media Policy Studies News and Events

Dr Belfiore is part of an interdisciplinary consortium of UK-based scholars, practitioners and policy makers, co-ordinated by Dr Andrew Miles of CRESC (Manchester), which was successful in securing an AHRC development funding grant under the ‘Connected Communities’ scheme. The development funding will allow the research team to meet and work together towards a large-scale bid to the scheme.

The project, entitled “Understanding everyday participation – Articulating cultural values” aims to explore and question the notions of 'participation' that dominate British cultural policy debates. Cultural participation in the UK is largely defined and understood in terms of the traditional, formalised practices and institutions funded by the national and local government and by arm's length bodies such as the Arts Councils.

This ‘official’ model for participation and value relies on a set of inherited assumptions about certain types of cultural activity being more legitimate and valuable than others. In marking those who do not take part in these activities out as passive and excluded, it reinforces a boundary between formal and informal practices that ignores the value of ordinary, everyday participation.

The project will explore and broaden the notion of cultural participation through a truly cross-disciplinary approach which encompasses historical enquiry, empirical data collection & analysis, and arts-based interventions in communities.