Identity as a project: art and sport in the service of urban development policies

Abstract

In a context where the local elites have understood that they could use culture to try and create a sense of belonging, of unity, beyond social divisions and conflicts, art and sport are more and more used by local government in order to contribute to their development policies. Based on various surveys carried out amongst institutional and community actors in Birmingham, London and Lyon, this paper shows how these cultural intermediaries have helped the cultural productions of ethnic minorities change from the status of fringe cultures to the status of resource for local development. Sublimated in sport and artistic performances, their identity must now become a project able to connect to a wider environment and not to withdraw into their domestic world – and finally to adapt their cultures to social and economic transformations.

Keywords:

• art
• sport
• identity
• urban policies
• ethnic minorities

Notes

1. The results presented in this paper are based on various surveys carried out amongst institutional and community actors in Birmingham, London and Lyons between 1996 and 2005 within the context of various research contracts (Arnaud 1999, 2005, 2008). They are based amongst others on semi‐direct interviews and on direct and participant observations. The aim was to compare the use and organization of sport and artistic activities developed for ethnic minorities by the French and British local governments.