World Art Cities: Theoretical Considerations

The presentation will deal with the topic of ‘world art cities’. The main body of research about global cities has primarily emphasised their function in the global economy (with Frankfurt, London, Zurich, Tokyo and New York as the main examples), thus limiting our understanding of the role of urban spaces as a microcosm and breeding ground for cultural and symbolic activities. This paper highlights the production and creation of a global artistic symbolism through a specific configuration of the artistic milieu, where a high number and a mutual interlinking of artistic activities are crucial for the formation of interactions, networks, exchange and collaboration through which a highly vivid, active and innovative atmosphere can develop. Furthermore, the paper discusses how these activities are embedded into a wider symbolic infrastructure of galleries, music venues, fringe theatres, museums and other spaces of the city. These venues enhance and reinforce certain artistic symbols because through a mutual interlinking of many spaces, they can confirm the innovative character of the work, thereby making them well known outside of their immediate locality. The paper will focus on the development of a theoretical framework that incorporates these different aspects, e.g., art districts, artistic milieu, artistic infrastructure, innovation and global reach.