Aarhus has been appointed European Capital of Culture 2017. In which ways will this affect the city? This question is to be examined by researchers from Aarhus University in nine research projects recently launched by the rethinkIMPACTS 2017 cooperation.

2014.05.09 | Helge Hollesen

How will being European Capital of Culture affect a city, economically? How is culture able to help solve social problems, such as waste separation? And which signals should the European Capital of Culture send via social media? 

These are some of the questions that researchers from Aarhus University wish to address in rethinkIMPACTS 2017. The purpose of this strategic cooperation between Aarhus 2017 and Aarhus University is to examine, which results/effects, Aarhus can expect from being European Capital of Culture 2017.

The steering committee of rethinkIMPACTS 2017 has handed out a total of DKK. 900 000 to nine different projects, as `seed money´. The money comes from a foundation established by Central Denmark Region and the municipality of Aarhus, back in 2013.

"Researchers from a very wide range of subject areas participate in the nine research projects, each contributing with his/her unique approach to evaluation of cultural projects. The purpose of the research is to ensure that we bring home positive experience from the 2017 project," says Louise Ejgod Hansen, project and research manager of rethinkIMPACTS 2017.

At the same time, she points out that the task of the researchers is not only to evaluate Aarhus 2017. They should also participate actively in developing and improving the entire process surrounding Aarhus 2017.

"The researchers are to put their knowledge to good use, so that Aarhus 2017 is able to benefit from the results before and while Aarhus is capital of Culture," she says. 

An ambitious partnership

Rebecca Matthews, managing director of the European Capital of Culture 2017, expects great things from the research projects:

Aarhus 2017 and rethinkIMPACTS 2017 provides us with a unique opportunity to measure the effects of a broad investment in art and culture. There is a common agenda for all of Europe. We wish to learn about the ways in which culture can create changes, and how cultural experiences affect the well-being of the individual citizen´, she says, and continues:

We would like to know more about how, for example, volunteer workers benefit from participating in a cultural project. How does it affect their career opportunities afterwards? We also wish to learn about the ability of international networks to strengthen our innovative skills – for example in the creative trades of our region.  I am very fond of our ambitious partnership with Aarhus University, and I expect great result of this cooperation.

Read more about the strategic partnership between Aarhus University and Aarhus 2017 here

The nine research projects:

Measuring the innovative and financial effects within the creative industry.

Project manager: Kristina Jespersen, Department of Economy.

Measuring the effect across social media sites.

Project manager: Anja Bechmann, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Smart cultural indicators: Connecting cultural indicators with social innovation and environmental sustainability. Project manager: Martin Brynskov, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Participating citizenship: New experiences and expactations. Project manager: Birgit Eriksson, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Re-conquering waste: A live experiment in Silkeborg. Project manager: Britta Timm Knudsen, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Tangible cultural heritage: Re-thinking the port of Aarhus as a laboratory for industrial heritage. Project Manager: Mads Daugbjerg, Department of Culture and Society.

Examining the value creation in the Aarhus 2017 project. Project manager: Markus Larsen, Department of Marketing and Organisation.

Re-archiving the Nordic. Project manager: Jette Gejl, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Audience development as institutional development. Project manager: Ingrid Vatne, Department of Aesthetics and Communication.

Contact Person:

Louise Ejgod Hansen

Project and research manager, the rethinkIMPACTS 2017

E-mail: Draleh@hum.au.dk

Mobile phone: 24232932