The academic field of cultural policy is concerned with analyzing the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies that influence the health, strength, and vibrancy of the arts and culture sector. Sustained applied research and education in cultural policy will help to cultivate future leaders in the cultural sector who have the commitment and capacity to advocate for the public value and the public purposes of the arts in our society.
Patricia Dewey, CCACP’s associate director for cultural policy, focuses on three interrelated thematic areas: arts administration education, international cultural policy, and cultural development. Specific current research interests include comparative cultural policy and administration (especially Europe, Canada, and the United States), cultural diplomacy, international training in cultural policy and administration, capacity building for cultural policy advocacy, and the leadership role of flagship arts institutions in urban/regional cultural development. Two major cultural policy research initiatives underway are titled European Union Cultural Policy and Cultural Development in the Pacific Northwest.
European Union Cultural Policy
For the past several decades, the field of comparative cultural policy has focused on comparing individual nation-states’ cultural policies. Theoretical and analytical models of cultural policy that take transnational or supranational factors into account have not yet been created. To guide this new topic of scholarly inquiry in transnational cultural policy-making, I asked: What is an emerging model of international cultural policy, as exemplified by the European Union? My exploratory field research in Europe as a recipient of a Fulbright European Union Affairs Research Grant revealed that very few people know anything at all about navigating the labyrinth of EU laws, institutions, policy actors and affiliated organizations in the field. Yet, the potential role ascribed to Europe’s cultural sector for purposes of regional economic and political integration is enormous. I have discovered a fertile for research that may lead to the identification of solid political strategies designed to cultivate international understanding and enhance a sense of collective regional identity and civic engagement. Surely these are valuable lessons for Europe as well as for other regions in the world.
Publications, recent and in progress, related to this research initiative:
Dewey, P. (2008). “Transnational Cultural Policy-making in the European Union.” The Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society (in press).
Dewey, P. (2008) “A Comparative Approach to Art Education Policy Research.” Studies in Art Education, 49 (4), 277-293.
Guest Editor. (Spring, 2007). Theme: EU Enlargement and European Cultural Policy Development. The Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society.
Dewey, P. “Power in European Union Cultural Policy.” In J. P. Singh (Ed.), Cultural Policies and Power. (book chapter in progress)
Dewey, P. European Union Cultural Policy. (book project in progress)
Erickson, M., & Dewey, P. “The Cultural Dimension of EU Media Policy.” (article in progress)
Cultural Development in the Pacific Northwest
How do strong arts institutions contribute to a sustainable creative economy? In particular, what is the leadership of flagship arts organizations (such as a city’s major symphony, opera, museum, ballet, and performing arts center) in fostering urban economic development and community well-being? In the Pacific Northwest, we are very fortunate to have intriguing case study metropolitan areas of Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, BC – renowned for their dynamic creative economies – to explore such interrelationships. Evidence from exploratory field research suggests that cultural sector leaders require much improved capacities for building sector-wide coalitions and alliances in order to successfully advocate for a public policy context that supports the long-term viability and sustainability of the creative economy as a whole. This is a long-term research path that will require, initially, a better understanding of federal, state or provincial, and local cultural policy and cultural planning in our transborder region. Then, strategies can be crafted to harness leadership capacities to develop a more proactive cultural planning effort throughout the region.
Cultural Development in the Pacific Northwest is an initiative that exemplifies the integration of research, teaching and community engagement. Graduate students’ class applied research projects in the annual Cultural Policy course support ongoing development of this initiative. Students and faculty have directed and participated in several related conferences and professional meetings focused on topics pertinent to this study. The next step in this initiative is to establish a strategic approach to research and professional development, titled Capacity Building for Cultural Policy Advocacy.
Publications, recent and in progress, related to this initiative:
Dewey, P. (Ed.). Proceedings from the Symposium on Cascadia-region Cultural Planning and Development, Portland, Oregon, November 7, 2008. (publication in progress)
Dewey, P. “The Leadership Role of Flagship Arts Organizations in Pacific Northwest Urban Cultural Development.” (article in progress – on hold pending new data collection)
Guest Editor. (Fall, 2006). Proceedings of the 31st Annual International Conference on Social Theory, Politics and the Arts. Theme: Cultural Development. The Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, 36 (3).
