A heritage-inspired cultural mega-event in a stigmatized city: Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Journal article


Tommarchi, E. and Bianchini, F. (2021). A heritage-inspired cultural mega-event in a stigmatized city: Hull UK City of Culture 2017. European Planning Studies. 30 (3), pp. 478-498. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2021.1959722
AuthorsTommarchi, E. and Bianchini, F.
Abstract

While the impacts of cultural mega-events on a city’s projected image have been extensively explored, less attention has been devoted to their role in relation to territorial stigmatization. These events have, in some cases, engaged with issues of stigmatization, as happened in Glasgow (European City of Culture 1990) and Derry-Londonderry (UK City of Culture 2013). This paper explores how built heritage is mobilized through a cultural mega-event in relation to stigma, through a case study of the city of Hull, in Northern England. Despite being among the country’s main ports until the 1930s, Hull suffered from steady structural socio-economic decline, in particular due to the demise of its fishing industry from the 1970s onwards. Hull UK City of Culture 2017 was understood as an opportunity to counter negative external perceptions. Heritage was mobilized to tell the story of the city, engage residents and visitors in cultural activities and boost civic pride. Events in 2017 and beyond promoted heritage learning in innovative ways, also through the spectacularisation of heritage spaces. However, the official evaluation of Hull 2017 shows how positive immediate results were later scaled down, suggesting that these events are not sufficient on their own to counter stigmatization.

Keywordsbuilt heritage; cultural mega events; stigmatised cities; UK City of Culture
Year2021
JournalEuropean Planning Studies
Journal citation30 (3), pp. 478-498
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN0965-4313
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2021.1959722
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09654313.2021.1959722?journalCode=ceps20
Publication dates
Print03 Aug 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited05 May 2022
Accepted author manuscript
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File Access Level
Open
Additional information

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in European Planning Studies on 03/08/2021, available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09654313.2021.1959722

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