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Definitions Matter: Dynamic Policy Framing of the Arts in Boston’s Sustainable Cultural Development

Author

Listed:
  • Xuefei Li

    (School of Government, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Margaret Wyszomirski

    (Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA)

  • Biyun Zhu

    (School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

Abstract

Cultural sustainability has become a fourth pillar in sustainable development studies. Different from the research approach to embedding culture into conventional sustainable discourse, this article argues that the sustainability and resilience issues within the arts and cultural sector should be paid more attention to. Putting the arts and cultural sector in urban settings, sustainable cultural development entails dynamic policy framing and changing policy justifications in response to an evolving socioeconomic and political environment. Taking the policy framing of the arts as an analytical lens, this paper aims to investigate this dynamic change and key driving factors through an in-depth case study of Boston’s urban cultural development. This article finds that different definitions of the arts are associated with different arts-based urban development strategies across four stages of cultural development in Boston spanning a period of over 75 years. The working definition moved from art to the arts, then to the creative arts industry, and eventually to cultural assets and creative capital. The policy framing of the arts keeps evolving and layering in pursuit of more legitimacy and resources regarding groups of stakeholders, field industry components, types of industrial structure, and multiple policy goals. This dynamic policy framing has been driven by arts advocacy groups, policy learning process, urban leadership change, and cultural institutional change, allowing Boston to draw on a growing and diversifying set of cultural resources in pursuit of sustainable cultural development.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuefei Li & Margaret Wyszomirski & Biyun Zhu, 2021. "Definitions Matter: Dynamic Policy Framing of the Arts in Boston’s Sustainable Cultural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:24:p:13661-:d:699406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scott, Allen J., 2010. "Cultural economy and the creative field of the city," MPRA Paper 32108, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Serhat Kaymas, 2020. "Geography … is it your destiny? Culturally sustainable development and creative industries nexus in the case of Turkey," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(10), pages 2040-2059, October.
    3. Throsby,David, 2010. "The Economics of Cultural Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521868259, Enero-Abr.
    4. Pralle, Sarah B., 2003. "Venue Shopping, Political Strategy, and Policy Change: The Internationalization of Canadian Forest Advocacy," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 233-260, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xinyu Zeng & Frederick Peter Ortner & Bige Tunçer, 2025. "Systematic Review of the Role of Arts Places in Fostering Urban Sustainability and Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, February.

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