How to foster urban inclusion and celebrate diversity in public spaces?
Public question
When developing urban policies, how to address the cultural needs and expectations of increasingly-diverse communities, upholding their cultural rights? How to foster interaction and participation in the public space? How to promote a shared identity and citizenship while celebrating diversity?
One interesting and innovative way is by way of urban cultural festivals. An interesting book on this subject by myself and colleagues is entitled Festivals and the Cultural Public Sphere (Edited by L Giorgi, M Sassatelli and G Delanty) (Routledge 2011). The book relies on work carried out in the framework of the FP7 project EURO-FESTIVAL (see http://cordis.europa.eu/result/rcn/143153_en.html).
Another interesting reference, albeit with European focus, is the European Festival Association EFA (https://www.efa-aef.eu/en/home/)
Thanks a lot for your kind response. It is indeed a very interesting way of addressing the cultural needs and expectations of diverse communities. Would you consider this an example of refugee and migrant participation in public life? Have you researched on mechanisms to enable refugees and migrants to participate in decision-making processes at the local level? Thanks a lot!