Cultural infrastructure as part of social infrastructure: perspectives of cultural policy and economics

Abstract

Cultural infrastructures are part of social infrastructures from various viewpoints. While cultural institutions fulfill their role as public places for social exchange and social life, they are also “infrastructure” in the more concrete and narrow focus of the welfare state. Cultural infrastructures help in producing and distributing diverse artifacts (music, performing arts, fine arts) and also play a role in social policies in regard to providing equal access to cultural events, and preserving cultural heritage. The welfare state perspective on cultural infrastructures is highlighted by the normative and positive analyses of public intervention in providing, regulating and funding the cultural infrastructure. Many theories resting on market failures and civil society reasoning (equal access, social participation and inclusion) infer a substantial involvement of the public sector in cultural policies. Though, cultural infrastructures, of course, may be provided and funded - formally as well as informally - both by the public sector, by private institutions and the civil society.