Cultural ties: institutional association or dependence? Cultural organizations’ social networks in large cities

• In Event: 3551 - Section on Sociology of Culture Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 15. Social Networks and Social Capital

Abstract

This paper analyses the relational framework among cultural entities in the Spanish city of Seville. Consequently, the methodological approach of Social Network Analysis (SNA) is used. As a result, a social network is revealed that includes most of these institutions and that suffers from a lack of internal cohesion. There are several nodes, or cultural actors, with disproportionate influence in this network: among which public and political institutions stand out, such as the local council; and entities with strong roots in the city that specialize in traditional-religious aspects of local culture, such as Fraternities and Brotherhoods; as well as foundations attached to banking entities. Most of Seville's cultural entities depend on these main ‘sources of influence’ for financing, the loaning of materials or other infrastructure, and for the organization of their activities. In this way, the lack of internal cohesion and the dependence of especially influential nodes are two structural characteristics that decisively condition the capacity of networking organizations and the autonomy of most city entities.

Authors

• Andres Villena, Universidad Pablo de Olavide

• benito doblado, Universidad Pablo de Olavide

• Xavier Coller, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia