I’ve been working on ideas about the development of Cultural Capital. My belief is that a radical shift in Cultural Policy development is needed to make the link between developing Cultural Capital and broader thinking about creating a sustainable and equitable future and addressing social exclusion. Here’s a start at sharing what I think. Comments are very welcome.
Active participation in culture. i.e. the development of Cultural Capital, builds social and community capital.
Cultural Capital is made up of a combination of:
- People – all people
- Capabilities – skills, dispositions, attitudes
- Collective experiences, shared narratives and histories
- Means of communication – technologies and languages
- Networks, connections, partnerships and collectives.
- Physical assets – spaces, buildings, artworks, resources for making
- Intellectual capital – ideas and knowledge
Capabilities developed through culture are core capabilities for sustainable living, i.e. the ability to:
- Imagine, and persuasively communicate the results of imaginative activity through dialogue
- Work in an adventurous and enterprising manner, embracing risk and uncertainty
- Co- create solutions with others, working flexibly in a spirit of collaboration and sharing
- Persist and overcome barriers to change, sustaining motivation with achievements
- Continuously reflect and refine, inviting new perspectives and solutions
- Work in an emotionally intelligent manner, developing individual and collective resilience through authentic relationship building
- Work ethically for the common good, grounding practice in values and sharing ideas freely
- Use resources wisely, minimising negative environmental impacts while maximising environmental improvements.
- Value and celebrate beauty, pleasure and playfulness.
Cultural capital can be developed fruitfully if key philosophical principles are applied:
- Valuing the centrality of individual and collective agency, and authorship of cultural production by community members in the development of shared cultural capital
- Continuously striving for excellence and innovation in cultural production
- The recognition of creativity as a universal human attribute rather than a gift of the few
- A commitment to broadening definitions of cultural worth and to understanding the impact of culture
- A determination to achieve equity of access and resource distribution
- A persistence in seeing all space as cultural space
- A valuing of diversity as a key engine of innovation
- A commitment to continuous learning about and through culture as a core feature of education
- A commitment to celebrating culture as a source of joy and pride across the whole of society.
Chris May