Arts-based Local Dynamics

Abstract

This paper deals with the way arts and artists can contribute to places development in deprived rural regions reinforcing their resilience and facilitating their renaissance. The close relations between artists and the places where they live and work stimulate new pathways of local development not only because the arts inspire creativity across a range of other existential fields (citizen participation, social care, economic initiatives), but also because they have a specific ability to convey meaning across different cultures and social groups promoting a community sense based on cohesion and innovation. The discussion is based on the study of Montemor, a small rural city in Alentejo (Portugal) where local authorities have over the last three decades pursued a local development strategy of which culture, heritage and the arts constitute a central pillar. This has made it possible for an interesting and dynamic local artistic ‘cluster’ to emerge based on the interaction between various forms of artistic expression. Based on focus-group sessions with the artists and on a population survey, we focus the paper on: (i) the stimuli given to the artists by the place and the local community and (ii) the outcomes of artistic productions in terms of community creative dynamics.