Culture in development strategies of small and medium-sized European cities: A comparative analysis

In the past decades, many European cities have implemented culture development strategies as a way to respond to economic challenges, but also social, environmental and cultural requirements. Following a relational approach, we focus on the initiatives carry out in four small and medium-sized cities, located in intermediate and rural regions, in distinct European countries (Finland, Portugal, Czech Republic, France and England). Despite their special role and preponderance in European spatial territory, the increase mobility and connectivity of goods, services and people, these small urban these areas are often overlooked.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Cultural and creative collaborative spaces in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods

In recent decades, our cities have been facing profound challenges arising from technological innovations and the intensification of global dynamics. In particular, the transition to a service economy and the increase in flexible forms of work; the emergence of cognitive-cultural capitalism (Scott 2008) due to the importance of knowledge, creativity, and innovation; impose new questions and rethink urban governance. Since the 1980s, governments have actively promoted the integration of cultural and urban policies into regeneration programs to promote local identity and distinctiveness, enhance the competitiveness and socio-economic development of territories. Over time, urban renewal strategies - supported by local authorities, private investors and/or public-private partnerships - have integrated not only the rehabilitation of deactivated spaces for socio-cultural activities but increasingly to focus on the potential of creative industries as levers for the renewal of disadvantaged or neglected areas. In addition, there is a growing interest in the people who work in this cultural and creative area as a catalyst for change and innovation. Many of them value lifestyles that provide work-life balance with paid work with non-profit activities. They also seek collaborative spaces (incubators, coworking, fab labs, maker spaces, etc.) that provide flexible and inspiring work experiences, sharing knowledge and leisure opportunities and business. These collaborative spaces, with different characteristics, which have been installed in various cities, tend to bring new users, behaviors, and investments. Many studies refer to their ability to contribute to the improvement of public space, (re)vitalization of socioeconomic activities, heritage conservation, as well as community empowerment and well-being. However, they can also promote art washing, real estate speculation, and gentrification processes and other problems. Thus, this working paper is part of ongoing research that tries to identify and understand these dynamics used in the regeneration of the territories through the creation of cultural and creative spaces of collaboration and co-creation as innovative ecosystems which are mobilized and shaped by the complex intertwining relations of production, social life, and the urban environment. After reviewing some of the main issues discussed in the literature, we purpose a methodological approach and some illustrative case studies that will be explored in the research and that can contribute for a better understanding of the complexity of these urban trends.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Creative-based strategies in small cities: a case-study approach

The article intends to contribute to the literature on the relation between small cities and the creative economy in Europe. It aims to identify some dimensions and variables that need to be considered when approaching the capability of these small territories to attract creative people and businesses, surpassing the metropolitan-biased approaches oriented to the context of large cities. The research work is based on a case study methodology, centred on the comparative analysis of the small cities of Óbidos (Portugal), Barnsley UK) and Jyväskylä (Finland). The results of this investigation emphasise the context-specific nature of creative-based policies and stress the importance of some key success factors, such as governance and institutional arrangements, quality of life, entrepreneurship and networks

Changing from plastic to ecologically-designed bottles : the impact on brand valuations

The present dissertation studies consumers’ valuations concerning the change of plastic bottles to ecologically-designed bottles by brands. An experimental study was conducted to investigate if the different levels of brand familiarity (low vs. high) and engagement with social issues impact consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP), likelihood of purchase and consumer perceived ethicality (CPE), for the two types of bottles. Results show that consumers’ brand valuations are higher when the eco-bottle is presented, showing that there is more willingness to pay and likelihood of purchase this type of bottle. Indeed, consumers’ level of ethicality perception with a brand is also increased when a brand changes from plastic to ecologically-designed bottles. Interestingly, this effect is mostly observed for low familiar brands even when consumers have low levels of engagement with social issues.A presente dissertação estuda o efeito da mudança de garrafas de plástico para garrafas ecológicas. Especificamente, examina o impacto que a familiaridade com a marca (alta vs. baixa) e o nível de compromisso com causas ambientais e sociais têm na disposição em pagar, na intenção de compra e nas percepções éticas do consumidor face a marcas que mudam de garrafas de plástico para as garrafas ecológicas. Neste âmbito, realizou-se um estudo experimental que investiga se os diferentes níveis de familiaridade com a marca e de compromisso com causas sociais têm impacto nas avaliações do consumidor. Os resultados mostram que não só as intenções de compra são mais elevadas, como a predisposição para pagar pela garrafa ecológica é superior. As percepções éticas do consumidor tornam-se também mais elevadas quando a garrafa ecológica é apresentada. No entanto, este efeito é maioritariamente observado quando a marca e os níveis de envolvimento com causas sociais são baixos

Rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility and natural water erosion potential in the Huambo region, Angola

The use of erosion assessment methods is critical for the sustainability of land use in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in countries lacking national information on soil erosion development, which is the case of Angola. This study aimed to evaluate the rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), soil loss tolerance (T) and natural erosion potential (NEP) in Huambo (Angola). The R value estimated for a 25-year period was 7463 MJ·mm·ha-1·h-1·y-1. K values estimated from 25 soil profiles, described in the Soil Map of Angola, varied from 0.021 to 0.247 t·ha·h·ha-1·MJ-1·mm-1, respectively, in yellow ferralitic and paraferralitic soils (Ferralsols) and brown psamitic soils (Arenosols). A two-principal component (PC) model for soil erodibility variables explained 61.7% of total variance. PC1 was related to particle size distribution and soil erodibility, pointing to a positive correlation between sand content in the soil superficial horizons and K. PC2 expressed soil loss vulnerability, with negative factor loading for soil loss tolerance. The cluster analysis (CA) grouped Arenosols in a significant cluster located in the positive quadrant of PC1, therefore, more erosion prone. The NEP average value found was of 605 t·ha-1·y-1. The obtained results raise awareness concerning soil degradation by water erosion and can be of value for decision-makers and for farmers and land users, contributing to the sustainability of agriculture in Huambo

Coworking in Lisbon: Experiences of collaboration and sharing on changing urban contexts

As innovative and creative ecosystems, Coworking Spaces (CWS) show high adaptability and recovery capacity in facing global event disruptions. This article is an exploratory study that aims to approach the development of coworking spaces in the city of Lisbon. It investigates the location patterns and adaptation of such ecosystems in Lisbon, by mapping the phenomenon and examining its spatio-temporal dynamics that was influenced by the urbanisation phases of the city, as well as the development and planning policies designed over the years. Starting from a broader view of CWS location in the city, this article moves on to present two particular cases, implemented in a different time and socio-economic circumstances in different parts of the city: LxFactory and The Creative Hub. This study is part of a broader contribution to COST Action (CA)18214 "The geography of the new workspaces and the impact on the periphery".info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CULTURE.IMPACTS.DIY: A self-assessment toolkit unveiling the multidimensionality of value creation in cultural activities

The question of value and its measurability has always been central in the study of social and economic practices, including cultural activities. However, contemporary structural changes related to the emergence of cognitive-cultural capitalism bring new forms of cultural production, consumption and mediation that challenge the analysis of cultural activities’ value(s). Despite the recognition of multidimensionality of its value, impacts of cultural activities are still often underestimated, and evaluation exercises have difficulties in including the diversity of dimensions of value created by these activities, in economic, social, cultural, environmental or participatory terms. Combining work developed by a DINAMIA’CET iscte team in different research projects (CREATOUR, RESHAPE, IMPACTS-AR, ARTSBANK and STRONGER PERIPHERIES), this presentation addresses value creation processes in culture, based on work developed with artists, cultural promoters, creative tourism agents and public authorities, in recent years, in several territorial contexts, both Portuguese and European, assessing the impact of their activities in their communities. A new conceptual and analytical approach to assess the impact of cultural activities in a given territory is proposed. A multidimensional impact assessment method, (co)developed with actors in creative fields, is proposed, provided through a toolkit for (self)evaluation of value(s) generated by cultural institutions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The 15-minute city concept and new working spaces: A planning perspective from Oslo and Lisbon

In the last few years, chrono-urbanism has welcomed a novel perspective, namely, that of the 15-minute city concept, which has recently emerged in the present planning debate. During the current pandemic, this has coincided with a drive to highlight the importance of merging more activities in the neighbourhood to improve urban vitality and reduce daily commuting. In addition, increasing digitalization and knowledge-intensive activities have transformed the nature of work itself, thus affecting the choice of the workplace with new working spaces (NWS) emerging for collaborative and flexible work environments. Therefore, within this context, this study discusses recent chrono-urbanism approaches applied to urban planning and the role of NWS. The phenomenon is empirically examined in Oslo and Lisbon through a qualitative analysis of planning documents and a spatial analysis. The results show that most NWS are fairly accessible by public transport to users in both cities; although the NWS neighbourhoods in Lisbon have a greater diversity of functions compared to Oslo. However, in both cities, the distribution of NWS is non-uniform. This may limit residents’ choice to live and work (outside home) in the same neighbourhood. The study contributes to the current planning debate on new urban models for sustainable neighbourhoods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geografia dos novos espaços de trabalho em Portugal

Os novos espaços de trabalho, como os coworking, fablabs, makerspaces, hubs criativos, têm ganho uma interesse crescente nas estratégias locais de desenvolvimento, enquanto espaços de promoção do empreendedorismo e inovação local [1]. Em particular, os espaços de coworking sobressaíram pela expansão exponencial verificada nos últimos anos. Segundo a revista Deskmag [2], dos 600 coworkings identificados em 2010 passou-se para 18 700 em 2018, o que corresponde 1,65 milhões de utilizadores em todo o mundo. Os espaços de coworking floresceram enquanto comunidades de trabalho colaborativo e de partilha, especialmente vocacionados para trabalhadores independentes e nas áreas das indústrias culturais e criativas e tecnologias digitais [3]. No entanto, tem-se assistido a uma diversificação de modelos e utilizadores. Existem cada vez mais corporações mobiliárias que reproduzem este modelo, e estes espaços atraem cada vez mais trabalhadores remotos de empresas, start-ups e outras empresas de várias dimensões. Embora, a grande maioria destes espaços se localizem em áreas centrais de grandes cidades, tem havido também uma propagação gradual para zonas periféricas, cidades e vilas menos densamente povoadas em toda a UE [4]. O mesmo tem vindo a acontecer em Portugal, em grande parte devido ao crescimento do trabalho remoto e a atração de nómadas digitais. Diversas iniciativas e medidas têm sido adotadas pelo governos locais e central nesse sentido. Ademais, a atual pandemia teve profundos efeitos na forma como vivemos e trabalhamos. Além do aumento do trabalho remoto, muitos académicos e decisores políticos têm vindo a repensar o planeamento urbano, defendendo a importância das relações entre tempo e espaço na conceção das cidades. As abordagens baseadas no conceito de crono-urbanismo, como o modelo de cidade dos 15 minutos, proposto por Carlos Moreno para a cidade de Paris [5], procura ter em conta a proximidade e o acesso a uma variedade de serviços e oportunidades de lazer e trabalho, promovendo a qualidade de vida e as relações sociais. Nesse sentido, os coworkings podem ser uma resposta para a diminuição das deslocações diárias e dependência do carro, e melhoria do equilíbrio entre a vida familiar, lazer e trabalho. Este estudo começa por identificar e analisar fatores de localização coworkings em Portugal, para depois se centrar na cidade de Lisboa. Para além de mapear e analisar a localização deste espaços, são investigadas questões relacionadas com a promoção do novo modelo urbano sustentável de uma cidade de 15 minutos, considerando a proximidade (em termos de minutos diários de caminhada e ciclismo) e a acessibilidade a uma variedade de funções urbanas, incluindo locais de trabalho não tradicionais, como os coworkings. Assim, procura-se contribuir para o atual debate sobre os novos espaços de trabalho, e em particular futuras estratégias sustentáveis para o planeamento urbano.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio