Cultural funding harms local societies
A study by the British Arts and Humanities Research Council casts doubt on whether cultural funding programs benefit local communities. Instead of more participation, they promote gentrification and the displacement of ordinary citizens.
The elaborate study "Understanding the value of arts & culture" by Geoffrey Crossick & Patrycja Kaszynska comes to the conclusion that cultural community centers and cultural mediation only lead to rising property prices in the surrounding area and the displacement of long-established residents. She also questions the positive effects of music education in elementary school and music programs in hospitals and prisons.
Among other things, the study draws its conclusions from an alternative view of empirical data on the effects of the measures. So far, it has mainly been quantitative surveys, such as the number of participants in events. However, qualitative surveys, for example on the personal experiences of those affected, are crucial.
Link to the report:
www.ahrc.ac.uk/documents/publications/cultural-value-project-final-report/
Telegraph article on the topic:
www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/how-weve-got-it-wrong-about-the-arts/
