The branding of cultural cities as a strategy for urban regeneration and city image-making emerged prominently during the era of “city renewal” in European countries in the 1980s. For us, “culture” represents more than art and entertainment; it is a transformative force that extends beyond leisure products into the public realm, fostering collective consumption and identity formation.
In a cultural city, one encounters flagship cultural projects and iconic cultural institutions—museums, theaters, and exhibition halls—designed with distinctive architectural styles and strategically positioned in key urban locations. These spaces serve as cultural landmarks, attracting flows of tourists and visitors while reinforcing the city’s cultural identity.
Mega-events such as the World Expo, garden festivals, and public art initiatives play a crucial role in reclaiming public spaces and elevating a city’s global profile. Cultural tourism, in its many forms—including heritage tourism, art-focused travel, rural cultural festivals, and thematic trails—offers immersive experiences that connect people with history, creativity, and place. Through these cultural dynamics, cities not only enhance their aesthetic and social landscapes but also stimulate economic development and global engagement.
What We Work On
Cultural cities have become a global movement, yet their development is deeply intertwined with power, politics, and branding strategies. How does cultural city branding serve political and economic agendas? How can planning and policymaking enhance cultural infrastructure? We critically examine place-based cultural consumption while developing interdisciplinary perspectives to generate new insights.
Despite the global emphasis on cultural consumption, our research extends beyond this dimension to explore cultural production. The concept of the “creative city” highlights the creation of environments that attract and sustain artistic and intellectual talent. We draw upon historical and civilizational perspectives to examine creative cities, employing innovative research methods to interrogate their evolving landscapes. Furthermore, as cultural and creative industries have long dominated creative city discourse, we seek to understand the synergies between cultural components, digital technologies, and the urban environment. Our work aims to cultivate conditions that foster cultural production while addressing the broader implications of digital transformation.
For us, culture is symbolic capital—an essential force that enhances urban identity, economic vitality, and everyday life. Many urban practitioners view culture as a panacea for urban regeneration and development, and we believe now is the time to explore cultural instruments as potential solutions to contemporary public health and socio-economic challenges.
For instance, art therapy has been shown to alleviate physical and psychological distress. Creative placemaking and community art initiatives restore social cohesion, counteracting the isolation brought about by prolonged crises. Digital media platforms not only drive economic recovery but also open new avenues for creative expression. Moreover, cross-cultural artistic collaborations facilitate dialogue across ethnic and racial divides, contributing to social equity and inclusion.
For us, “culture” embodies wisdom, intelligence, aesthetic achievement, talent, and creativity—qualities that require nurturing and sustained investment. Cultural districts, creative clusters, and cultural institutions serve as vital incubators for artistic and intellectual engagement. Chicago, for instance, would not be the same without its iconic cultural assets such as Grant Park, Millennium Park, and the Field Museum.
Thus, we study these dynamics, seeking hybrid approaches to understand and enhance the conditions for cultural prosperity. We are committed to advancing education, cultural planning, and cultural management. As practitioners, we translate research into action—providing expert consultation to urban policymakers, facilitating global cultural exchange through art projects, and hosting cultural events that generate transdisciplinary insights. Through these efforts, we aim to bridge scholarship and practice, shaping more vibrant and inclusive cultural landscapes.
CCRI 