Cultural activism and the politics of place-making

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the relationship between creative practice, activism and urban place-making by considering the role they play in the construction of meaning in urban spaces. Through an analysis of two activist groups based in Stokes Croft, Bristol (UK), we argue that cultural activism provides new political prospects within the wider context of global capitalism through the cultivation of a shared aesthetics of protest. By cultivating aspects of shared history and a mutual enthusiasm for creative practice as a form of resistance, Stokes Croft has emerged as a ‘space of nurturance’ for creative sensibilities. However, we note how Stokes Croft as an autonomous space remains open-ended and multiple for activists interested in promoting different visions of social justice.

Key words:

• place identity
• cultural activism
• Stokes Croft
• collectivity
• resistance

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the research interviewees as well as the wider citizenry of Stokes Croft who made this work so engaging and enjoyable. We would also like to acknowledge Nick Clark and Allan Cochrane, organisers of the localism session at the 2011 annual conference of the RGS-IBG where we presented our early thoughts. Subsequent versions of the paper were presented at the 2012 Conference in Interpretive Policy Analysis in Tilburg, Netherlands (special appreciation to Jennifer Dodge and Tamara Metze for allowing Michael to contribute to the conference via Skype!) and the 2012 UK–Ireland Planning Research Conference in Brighton. Sincere thanks to the reviewers and editors at City for providing helpful critique and suggestions on earlier drafts and to Mark Simmons for the great photographs. Finally, Michael Buser would like to acknowledge the Arts and Humanities Research Council's Connected Communities programme for supporting his research on cultural activism.

Notes

1 For a detailed description of recent development projects in Bristol, see also Tallon 2007, 79–83. An account of the political economy of such partnerships in Bristol also appears in Bassett 1996.

2 Clement (2012) argues that this building was partially responsible for the increased local demand for a grocery store of the kind that Tesco opened in Stokes Croft in 2011.

3 Hoxton was often cited in our interviews as a comparison to understand how Stokes Croft is currently developing, even in light of the fact that Bristol City Council has had very little involvement in supporting artistic initiatives in the area.

4 Use Class Orders are groupings of land use types (e.g. shops, restaurants and cafés, business, assembly and leisure, and so on) as set out in the Town and Country Planning Order 1987. Planning permission is typically not required for changes of use of land or buildings within each category.

5 To borrow from James C. Scott's (1998) explanation of the techniques of modern statecraft that he described as ‘seeing like a state’.

6 Activists were particularly frustrated with formal participation and engagement opportunities, and many ultimately found themselves in an adversarial relationship with city council planners.

7 See, for example: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/bristol-burns-once-more-as-tesco-riots-return-to-streets-of-stokes-croft-2276837.html; http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2011/04/stokes-croft-police-tesco; http://www.bristolregeneration.org.uk/fundingapproved2.html; http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/22/bristol-riot-police-injured; http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Tesco-frustrated-fierce-opposition-say-raw-deal-Bristol/story-11264608-detail/story.htm

8 For a more complete gallery of images from these events, see: http://stokescroft.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/no-tesco-in-stokes-croft-protest-the-community-finds-its-voice/

Additional information

Michael Buser is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments at the University of the West of England. Email: [email protected]

Carlo Bonura is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London. Email: [email protected]

Maria Fannin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol. Email: [email protected]

Kate Boyer is a Lecturer of Human Geography in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Southampton. Email: [email protected]