cities, museums and soft power€¦ · gail dexter lord ngaire blankenberg october 10 2015...
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Gail Dexter Lord Ngaire BlankenbergOctober 10 2015Knowledge Quarter
Cities, Museums and
SOFT POWER:
A look at London
Crowd along Ladbroke Grove during the Notting Hall Carnival, Photo: Wikipedia
• Founded Lord Cultural Resources in 1981
• The world’s largest cultural professional practice
• 2,000+ assignments over 34 years
• 56+ countries on 6 continents
• An international reputation for sector leadership,
innovation and excellence
Toronto New York Paris Mumbai Beijing
CULTURAL
PROJECTS IN
1000+ CITIES
WORLDWIDE.
SOFT POWER
Soft power is the ability to influence behaviourthrough persuasion,
attraction or agenda setting.
UK #1 IN SOFT
POWER
“Cultural contact has originally been
elite-to-elite (through royal courts and
ambassadors),then elite-to-many (via
broadcasting and cinema) and
now we are entering
into a phase of
people-to-people
through travel, migration
and the internet.
Influence and Attraction, Culture and the race for soft power in the 21st century,
British Council, p.7
SOFT
POWER
STARTS
AT HOME
CITIES ARE
AT THE
EPICENTER OF
SOFT POWER
Sunset over London AquariumSource: Wikipedia
URBAN POPULATION IS GROWING by 65 million annually. Cities = Half of the world’s population. 80% of global GDP. Urbanization drives global ECONOMIC growth.
Tokyo
SOFT POWER
IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Growth of networks
Power of civil society
Role of women
"Cities are starting to exercise influence on global issues like migration and sustainability, but could cities more
effectively exercise
their soft power by
embracing museums?”
- Richard Florida
MUSEUMS
USED TO BE
AGENTS OF
HARD POWER
• Trophies of war• Exhibitions focused on
hierarchies of civilization• Records of “great men”
Elgin Marbles, British MuseumPhoto by Andrew Dunn. Source: Wikipedia
MUSEUM EVOLUTION
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS
ENTERTAINMENT
CITY BRANDING
Museum of Minnesota Source: Facebook
Darwin Center Source: Facebook
Guggenheim BilbaoPhoto by Andrew Nash. Source: Flickr
NOW: SOFT POWER
….but many prefer to be
sleeping giants
Photo: The Royal Society
1. Increase Property Values2. Economic Generators3. Tourism Destinations4. Adapting to Change5. Preserve and Display 6. Cultural Commons and Place-making7. 21ST Century Skills8. Soft Power Funding
MUSEUMS ROLES
IN CITY-BUILDING
INCREASING
PROPERTY VALUES
ADAPTING
TO CHANGE
Human + ExhibitionScience Gallery International / CCCB Barcelona
CULTURAL COMMONS
AND PLACE-MAKING
Canalside Steps, Granary Square, King's CrossPhoto: King’s Cross
21ST
CENTURY
SKILLS
Le Laboratoire. Paris, FrancePhoto from Le Laboratoire Facebook
SOFT POWER
FUNDING
….WHEN SOFT POWER COLLIDES
Protesters at Wellcome Collection, April 2015Photo: DivestLondon
It’s a moment of choice for museums
Soft Power Embrace with Cities
OrSleeping Giant ?
