I can get off this bus and do something important for myself. The city as a space for adult learning in the perspective of local urban elites

Abstract

In this article explores small cities as the a potential for adult learning. By referencing social capital theory, habitus and cultural capital, we open a discussion on the role of physical, social and symbolic space. The results are based on the technique of walking interviews with small city residents of cities in Poland. The study shows that the basis of learning mechanisms included visiting local authorities, meetings of hobbyists, local urban projects, urban institutions and storytelling city spaces that induced storytelling of the city. The results inform us about the advantages that of elites have in shaping lifelong learning offers. They create their city's narrative of their city by deciding which symbols, people, spaces and institutions are significant. We conclude that the reception of educational content is influenced by the use patterns of use of public spaces. These are culturally and economically determined and can reinforce inequalities in access to learning. However, they still hold there is still great potential for learning in them.