Journal article
A capabilities approach to arts and culture? Theorizing community development in West Philadelphia
Planning theory & practice, v 17(1), pp 35-51
02 Jan 2016
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Arts and culture are increasingly part of the planning and development toolkit in the USA. Justifications for investment in the arts often center on economic development outcomes. In contrast, we propose the use of Amartya Sen's capabilities approach to human development, which asserts the importance of the freedom to achieve personal and group well-being through the creation of conditions that maximize opportunity. This paper advances the capabilities approach by exploring arts and culture engagement in three adjacent West Philadelphia neighborhoods. Amid conditions of material deprivation and pressure from gentrification, neighborhood residents strongly articulate their belief in arts and culture as a strategy of community empowerment. The capabilities approach offers planners an opportunity to reevaluate the way they incorporate arts and culture in their efforts. We conclude that arts-based development should employ comprehensive place-based strategies, with social and spatial justice as guides to practice and primary metrics for success.
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Details
- Title
- A capabilities approach to arts and culture? Theorizing community development in West Philadelphia
- Creators
- Andrew Zitcer - Drexel UniversityJulie Hawkins - Drexel UniversityNeville Vakharia - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Planning theory & practice, v 17(1), pp 35-51
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- 3776 / Office of Research, Drexel University (10.13039/100006497)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Arts and Entertainment Enterprise; Pennoni Honors College; Architecture, Design, and Urbanism
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000376259300003
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84960311296
- Other Identifier
- 991019168416604721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Regional & Urban Planning
- Urban Studies