Towards cultural ecologies: why urban cultural policy must embrace multiple cultural agendas

Abstract

This chapter draws on local ethnographic work undertaken in Ordsall, Salford UK. The Ideas4Ordsall initiative comprised 25 ideas for cultural activity generated by local people, funded by the AHRC Connected Communities programme. People’s ideas for cultural activities included dog-walking, beekeeping, photography, craft, cooking, bike workshops, a community festival, a community noticeboard and a graphic design company. We argue that local people’s ideas speak back and challenge narrow framings of the creative city, with a focus on  connecting community; curating history; developing social enterprise; capturing a sense of place and sharing knowledge. Although disconnected from mainstream cultural activities, our process revealed a rich and vibrant community in the area, running through family networks where people socialise daily with each other, and find culture in community, mutuality, sociality, history and place. We draw on our study to argue that progress towards cultural democracy can be enhanced through   anthropological understandings of culture as webs of significance and the patterns through which people accommodate their daily activities