Participatory methodological approaches for regenerative cultural policy. The case study of cultural mapping in the public library of Ravensburg
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The article discusses cultural mapping as a participatory research method for regenerative cultural policy through investigating the role of libraries as a social infrastructure. It argues that the reframing of cultural policy in a regenerative way – under the idea of the renewal of cultural ecosystems – requires participatory methodological approaches that involve communities and recognise specific characteristics of a place to follow a holistic attempt. Cultural mapping aims to visualise local cultural knowledge such as feelings, practices, memories or rituals that are important to a community. The method is used to involve communities in cultural planning processes and to visualise and incorporate knowledge that has so far been overlooked or ignored by cultural policy stakeholders. The article uses the case study of cultural mapping in the public library in the city of Ravensburg, Germany, focussing on (1) favourite places of library users, (2) children and young people and (3) barriers for non-users.
Author: Meike Lettau
Institution: Zeppelin Universität gemeinnützige GmbH
Language: English
Subfield: Library and Information Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408677443