Access to Culture and Cultural Participation in the ROCK Intervention Area in Lisbon. Policy Report

Abstract

Culture plays an important role for cities and influences a wide set of policy fields. Focus on cultural policies allows for the understanding of issues related to the design and development of cultural policies in urban contexts, such as economic impacts, tourism and the quality of life of citizens. When it comes to the role of cultural policies for individuals and communities living in ͚cultural cities͛, as in the case of Lisbon, culture can be an important driver for well-being, cohesion, social inclusion, identity and active citizenship. However, Lisbon also shows wide gaps in equal access to culture. Recently, there has been a growing debate on the right to participate in cultural life in Europe, which leads to relevant questions on the ways in which Lisbon is providing conditions for equal access. This policy report is based on the investigation conducted in collaboration with the European Union-funded project ROCK (͚Regeneration and Optimization of Cultural heritage in creative and Knowledge cities͛) in the intervention area in the eastern part of Lisbon, acrossthe parishes of Marvila and Beato. The aim is to contribute to the policy debate on access to culture and cultural participation in the ROCK intervention area and presents and discusses data from the field. A set of seven recommendations is provided aiming to reduce physical, social and intellectual barriers that prevent accessibility to cultural activities and cultural participation and address policy actors on a local, national and European level. Reducing those barriers means wider and better access, and more cultural participation and equality. The recommendations address physical, financial, educational barriers, patterns of cultural consumption and digital access, social exclusion, and public participation.