Overview

This book explores the transformative role of networks within the European Union (EU) over the past three decades, particularly in relation to the cultural and creative sectors, examining how informal collaborations evolved into structured entities that have reshaped EU cultural governance and fostered cross-border cooperation among cultural professionals. Employing case studies, the book reveals how EU-funded networks influence local creative practices and policy discourse and drive ideational change. It introduces new analytical frameworks to assess networks as agents of multilevel, cross-sectoral transformation. By blending institutional and ethnographic analyses, the book challenges traditional views of EU cultural policy, arguing that cultural networks not only promote European integration, but also balance economic, cultural, social and environmental priorities. It positions these networks as central to the development of a transnational European cultural space, advancing both symbolic and structural integration. This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers and cultural professionals, providing fresh insights into the evolving dynamics between cultural networks, policymaking and creative ecosystems in Europe. The analysis offers a unique perspective for a strategic conceptualisation of cultural policymaking, envisioning a future where cultural actors play a pivotal role in shaping the European cultural landscape and governance.

Full Product Details

9781032783741

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""This timely and meticulously argued book focuses on the understudied shift within the European Union towards a new cultural governance architecture that is characterized by hybrid transnational networks. Through her creative combination of a constructivist perspective and in-depth case studies, Carlotta Scioldo demonstrates how the ongoing process of cultural Europeanization sometimes unexpectedly merges bottom-up initiatives with top-down policies. She presents a new typology of transnational networks, carefully examines the effects of network membership, and rightly points out the risk of depoliticization, where critical issues are sidelined in favor of consensus-building. This book is essential reading if you want to understand the genesis and functioning of the newly emerged European Cultural Space."" Rudi Laermans, Professor Emeritus in Social Theory and Sociology of the Arts, University of Leuven, Belgium ""The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the intricate relationship between cultural policy, governance mechanisms, and the transnational networking dynamics within the EU's cultural landscape. It offers valuable insights into the transformative role of cultural transnational networks in shaping EU cultural objectives and critically assesses their role as foresight tools for nuanced cultural policy interactions across Europe."" Enrico Bertacchini, Associate Professor of Public Economics at University of Turin, Italy"

Author Information

Carlotta Scioldo is a researcher and consultant with a focus on EU cultural policies and programmes. Carlotta is also Lecturer at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and External Expert at the European Commission, EACEA.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available