Brazil's Creative Cities: Challenges and Opportunities for Social Inclusion in the Americas

Session Submission Type: LASA Section Panel

Abstract

Our panel concentrates on Brazilian communities that are recognized by UNESCO as creative cities. Our goal is to critically analyze and explore the following questions: what are the distinguishing aspects of a creative city? What are the benefits of these attributes? Once designated as "creative," what challenges do cities, local governments, and the civil society have to confront? Can creative cities do more to promote regional integration and social inclusion at cultural or economic levels? Can different approaches towards creativity in selected cities serve as a model to others?

These are a sample of the questions we aim to explore. At the time when cities are playing an increasing part in domestic and international innovation, it is useful to map the future roles that creative cities can play in sustainable development, urban mobility, migration flows, cultural initiatives, attraction of foreign investment, poverty reduction, the struggle against organized crime and urban violence, and society's participation in the municipal decision-making process -- in ways that can promote greater justice and social inclusion. This progressive agenda tends to clash with the entrepreneurial-managerial patterns of city governance that has emerged with the neo-liberal epoch – not only in Brazil, but also in other parts of Latin America and the world.

Sub Track

• Section Sessions

Session Organizer

• Valnora Leister, James Madison University

Chair

• Valnora Leister, James Madison University

Discussant

• Joseph C Marques, Geneva School of Diplomacy

Individual Presentations

• The Contributions of a Creative City to the Debates on Sustainable Urban Development: Curitiba and its Real Model - Ivani Vassoler-Froelich, State University of New York/Fredonia

• Brazil’s creative cities: Exploring their opportunities for social inclusion partnerships across South America - Valnora Leister, James Madison University; Mark Frazier, Openworld

• Para além da Cidade Criativa: Identidades culturais e o senso de comunidade como elementos estruturantes na consolidação da cidade humana - Adriana Silva, IPCCIC, UNICAMP - USP; Lilian R Rosa, IPCCIC - Instituto Paulista de Cidades Criativas e Identidades Culturais / FAAP - Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado / UNESP Programa de Pós-Graduação em Planejamento e Análise de Políticas Públicas; Sandra Rita Molina, IPCCIC/Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP)

• Paradiplomacy of Lusophone Creative Cities - Joseph C Marques, Geneva School of Diplomacy

• Salvador and João Pessoa – Creative Cities for the Common Good? - Einar Braathen, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR); Geraldo Adriano G Campos