Description:
This book reveals in a comparative perspective the unique profile of European cities as generators of sustainable development, and the special contribution of culture to this process. It addresses both a deficit of attention to the role of small and medium-sized cities in European sustainable development, and an underestimation of the role of culture, arts and creativity for integrated development of the city as a prerequisite for urban sustainability. On the basis of a broad collection of case studies and good practices throughout Europe, representing a variety of regionally specific cultural models of sustainable development, the book investigates how participative culture, community arts, and more generally, creativity of civic imagination contribute to the goal of a sustainable future for small and medium-sized cities.
Review Quotes:
"'Imagining Europolis' comes at a moment when more than ever we need - at EU level - to collectively build a common civic space where European citizens can discuss and reflect on crucial issues for the further development of our European project. The book clearly contributes to this endeavour. My thanks to the authors!"-Sylvain Pasqua, Senior Expert in EU cultural policies in the European Commission, Coordinator of the "European Capitals of Culture" scheme of the European Union
"This is a very timely book, that gathers many distinguished contributors on a hot topic such as sustainable culture-led development in small and medium-sized European cities - the true backbone of Europe. Research, fresh ideas and experiences in this field are much needed in the Europe of today. Warmly recommended reading."-Pier Luigi Sacco, Professor of Cultural Economics, IULM University, Milan; Member of the technical-scientific Committee on Cultural Economics of the Italian Ministry of Culture and Heritage
"The complex cultural dimensions of the urban condition today and of the theory and practice of sustainability are topics hampered by commonplaces as well as wishful if not incantatory thinking. The essays in this truly significant volume on European cities break exciting new ground, however. They provide a rich template for far more informed and fruitful debate."-Yudhishthir Raj Isar, Professor of Cultural Policy Studies, The American University of Paris; Institute for Culture and Society, University of Western Sydney.
"'Imagining Europolis' shows compellingly how a number of the continent's small and medium-sized cities offer key creative, imaginative and participatory models for a culture-based sustainable urbanism while clearly theorizing ever-present tensions and faultlines. In its models for sustainable city co-creation the book offers valuable lessons for cities everywhere, including the urban behemoth Cosmopolis."-Greg Young, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Sydney, Australia