Cultural mega-events in heritage-rich cities: Insights from the European Capital of Culture and broader policy perspectives

This study examines the ways in which the city image of Istanbul is re-created through the mega-events within the context of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) 2010. Istanbul “took the stage” as one of the three ECoC cities (Essen for the Ruhr in Germany and Pécs in Hungary), where the urban spaces were projected as the theatre décor while residents and visitors became the spectators of the events. Organisers and agents of the ECoC 2010 seemed to rebrand Istanbul as a “world city” rather than a “European capital”. With a series of transnational connotations, this can be considered as part of an attempt to turn Istanbul to a global city. In this study we examine posters used during the ECoC 2010 to see whether this was evident in the promoted images of Istanbul. The research employs a hermeneutic approach in which representations, signs and language are the means of symbolic meaning, which is analysed through qualitative methods for the visual data (Visual Analysis Methods), namely Semiotics and Discourse Analysis. The analysed research material comes from a sample of posters released during the ECoC 2010 to promote 549 events throughout the year. Using stratified random sampling we have drawn 28 posters (5% of the total) reflecting the thematic groups of events in the ECoC 2010. Particular attention is also paid to the reflexivity of the researchers and researchers’ embeddedness to the object of research. The symbolic production and visual representation are therefore investigated firstly through the authoritative and historically constituted discourses in the making of Istanbul image and secondly through the orders of cultural consumption and mediatisation of culture through spectacular events. Hence enforcing a transnationalisation of the image of the city where the image appears to be almost stateless transcending the national boundaries. Findings and methodology used in this study can be useful in understanding similar cases and further research into the processes of city and place branding and image relationships.

Download Full-text

Book Review

BORDER CROSSING ◽

10.33182/bc.v6i2.503 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 386-389

Author(s):

Eduardo Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Urban Planning ◽

Urban Design ◽

Olympic Games ◽

City Image ◽

European Capital Of Culture ◽

The Arts ◽

The World ◽

The City ◽

The Olympic Games

Evinç Doğan (2016). Image of Istanbul, Impact of ECoC 2010 on The City Image. London: Transnational Press London. [222 pp, RRP: £18.75, ISBN: 978-1-910781-22-7]The idea of discovering or creating a form of uniqueness to differentiate a place from others is clearly attractive. In this regard, and in line with Ashworth (2009), three urban planning instruments are widely used throughout the world as a means of boosting a city’s image: (i) personality association - where places associate themselves with a named individual from history, literature, the arts, politics, entertainment, sport or even mythology; (ii) the visual qualities of buildings and urban design, which include flagship building, signature urban design and even signature districts and (iii) event hallmarking - where places organize events, usually cultural (e.g., European Capital of Culture, henceforth referred to as ECoC) or sporting (e.g., the Olympic Games), in order to obtain worldwide recognition.

Download Full-text

Study of International Cultural Exchange Demonstrated in European Culture-led Regeneration: 2008 Liverpool European Capital of Culture Case

The Journal of Multicultural Society ◽

10.15685/jms.2016.02.9.1.127 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 127

Author(s):

Saemee Kim

Keyword(s):

Cultural Exchange ◽

European Capital Of Culture ◽

European Culture

Download Full-text

Reenacting Migration, Past and Present

Transfers ◽

10.3167/trans.2017.070311 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 127-130

Author(s):

Mariana C. Françozo

Keyword(s):

Maritime History ◽

Christopher Columbus ◽

Exhibition Space ◽

European Capital Of Culture ◽

Air Space ◽

History Of ◽

The City

Located at the old harbor of the city of Genoa, the modern Galata Museo del Mare was inaugurated as part of the commemoration of Genoa as the 2004 European Capital of Culture. Only twelve years later, the museum proudly welcomes 200,000 visitors annually into its twenty-eight galleries, organized in an impressive exhibition space of 10,000 square meters, showcasing 4,300 objects. While the aim of the museum is to tell the maritime history of Genoa—ranging from Christopher Columbus to an open-air space showcasing the story of the Genoese shipyard—it is the exhibition on migration to and from Italy that will truly impress the visitor.

Download Full-text