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are significant because they represent the first comparison of U.S. metropolitan regions according
to an array of cultural vitality measures. Two things emerge from this analysis, a mechanism for
comparing urban metropolis areas along different cultural dimensions and a cultural vitality profile
for each region suggesting the relative intensity of different elements of cultural vitality.
Chapter 7 “Using Data from Multiple Tiers to Describe a Community” is a summary analysis of
the types of data used to report on arts and culture by the collaborators in this study in Seattle,
Boston and Philadelphia.
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Laaksonen, Annamari (2010). Making Culture Accessible: Access, Participation in Cultural
Life and Cultural Provision in the Context of Cultural Rights in Europe. Strasbourg: Council of
Europe Publishing.
This study provides a general overview of existing legal and policy frameworks in Europe, covering
access to and participation in cultural life, cultural provision and cultural rights. It examines what
countries in Europe have done, intend to do and could do in the future. It aims at facilitating an
environment that enables the development of access and participation in this area.
After an introduction to the concepts in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 “Building access, promoting and
securing provision” is divided into 4 main sections: Access and participation in cultural life;
Participation in the context of human/cultural rights; Participation in cultural life in the international
legal and institutional framework; and Local and regional environment.
Chapter 3 “Participation in culture in the administration and legislation” is about the importance of
having a strong legislation and legal instruments supporting cultural participation. The issues
covered by each section are: Assuring access - The legal approach; From laws to action -
Fostering participation in cultural life in public administration; Surveying cultural access,
participation, provision and rights; and Cultural citizenship and participation.
Chapter 4 “Diverse cultural participation - Fostering participation of groups with special needs” is
about how to break down the barriers to cultural participation in the case of people with disabilities;
ethnic, national and linguistic minorities; and older people and the young; amongst others.
Chapters 5 and 6 are dedicated to exploring European experiences in participation in cultural life
and how to measure access, provision and participation in cultural life. Chapters 8 and 9 explore
future trends and ways to improve current policies.
The study finishes with the statement that “Access and participation in culture are fundamental
elements in a democracy and effective policymaking, but above all they help in achieving a
dignified and rich life”.
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