Thinking about Local Cultural Policy in America: Navigating the Theoretical Confusion

Over the last ten years, American local governments produced several reports studying the status of culture in their area. Even though these reports are raising the awareness for the importance of the cultural sector at local level, they present a theoretical confusion. The purpose of this paper is to navigate this confusion, utilizing academic research to categorize the different approaches. Three main domains are identified: cultural industries, cultural institutions, and cultural districts. Each domain has its own theoretical framework characterized by specific (1) foundational concepts, (2) economic functions, and (3) interaction mechanisms. In this paper, each of these elements is analyzed in detail. Overall, this theoretical analysis suggests directions for future actions.