Mapping culture and cultural interaction in view of Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture (ECoC)

Abstract

Cultural mapping involves the identification and classification of cultural spaces, activities, and resources. First launched in Britain in the late 1990s, it was described as ‘shorthand for a whole series of analytic methods for collecting and presenting information on the range and scope of the creative industries’ (BOP Consulting 2010: 11). This methodology is a useful means of visualising and communicating the cultural assets of a particular area and is considered a useful tool for cultural planning and policy-making, although it is acknowledged that arts and culture present a more complex picture than is captured through this type of exercise (Deveau & Goodrum 2015: 64). Cultural mapping uses both qualitative and quantitative methods of assessment to identify and describe local resources, in order to ensure the inclusion of all sectors of the community (Bianchini, Ghilardi 2007: 281). In recent years, it has been adopted in Malta in order to satisfy the demand, from within the cultural sector, for an informed framework in planning arts and cultural facilities on the national level. It is also intended to reflect the local councils’ contribution to the sector. [Excerpt]