European Port Cities and Urban Regeneration: Exploring Cultural and Sporting Mega Events at the Water’s Edge

Description

Culture- and event-led regeneration have been catalysts for the transformation of redundant urban port areas and for the reframing of the image of many port cities, which notably feature among mega-event bidding and host cities. However, there is little understanding of the impacts of these processes on port-city relationships, as well as of how port city cultures shape mega events and the related regeneration strategies. The book examines the underexplored mutual links between, on the one hand, urban and socio-economic regeneration driven by cultural and sporting mega events and, on the other hand, the spatial, political and symbolic ties between cities and their ports. By adopting a cross-national, comparative perspective, with in-depth case studies (Hull, Rotterdam, Genoa and Valencia) and examples from other port cities across the world where mega events were held, the book engages with issues such as the tension between port and cultural uses, reactions and opposition to mega events in port cities, clashing urban imaginaries drawing on port activity and culture, the role of port authorities and companies in the city’s cultural life, the spectacularisation and commodification of local maritime culture and heritage, processes of cultural demaritimisation and remaritimisation of port cities. The book is therefore a contribution towards the bridging of port city and mega-event studies, and it provides insights for port city policy makers and mega-event promoters, drawing from a range of international experiences. The book also shows how societal and political change in the current ‘ontologically-insecure’ times may undermine the very paradigm of culture- and event-led regeneration in the years to come. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations 1 Introduction: exploring port cities of culture and events 2 Bridging port-city relationships, urban regeneration and mega events 3 Waterfront redevelopment and the rationale for hosting mega events 4 Port cities and event-led regeneration in ontologically insecure times 5 The spatiality of event-led regeneration at the port-city interface 6 The politics of event-led regeneration in port cities 7 Event-led regeneration and symbolic port-city links 8 Conclusions: a forward look at port cities of culture and events Index