Cultural Mapping and Urban Regeneration: Analyzing Emergent Narratives about Bilbao

Abstract

The role of culture in urban regeneration should be studied at different levels. Cultural mapping gives us a new understanding of the historical processes that have transformed public spaces in cities whose productive models and social relationships have undergone critical changes, affecting how they project their identity inside and outside their boundaries. Our research focuses on the case study of Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). The first part of the analysis centres on a critical interpretation of the importance granted to cultural infrastructures in areas that were most intensely exposed to the changes which are known as the ‘Guggenheim effect’ on the international scene. This study especially examines the tension between today’s transformations and managing memories from the past. The second part analyses cultural mapping practices developed in emerging areas of the city such as the Zorrotzaurre peninsula, which is the new focus of the metropolitan development scheme. The proposals chosen for this study foster democratic responsibility in city management by using new technologies. They enable us take a closer look at some of the city’s most innovative collaborative cultural mapping practices, methodology and processes, as well as the theoretical frameworks that inspired them. Lastly, a proposal is put forth to implement participatory cultural mapping to identify the spillover effects of the cultural and creative industries located in renewed urban spaces.Keywords: cultural mapping, Bilbao, urban regeneration, social memory, creative citiesRésumé: Le rôle de la culture dans les stratégies de régénération urbaine devrait être étudié à plusieurs niveaux. La pratique de la cartographie culturelle révèle l’importance des processus historiques et des transformations identitaires à l’oeuvre dans les villes où les modèles productifs ont subi d’importantes mutations. Cet article met en évidence le cas de la ville de Bilbao dans le Pays basque espagnol. La première partie de cet article discute des incidences de « l’effet Guggenheim » sur l’ensemble des infrastructures culturelles de la ville. Cette partie met en relief la transformation et les enjeux mémoriels qui en découlent. La seconde partie de cet article discute de la cartographie culturelle de la péninsule de Zorrotzaurre, une partie de la vielle en pleine effervescence. Cet article adopte une attitude de responsabilisation démocratique dans son utilisation des nouvelles technologies pour la gestion municipale. Cet aspect est développé dans une réflexion sur l’usage des technologies, sur la participation publique l’impact des industries culturelles et creatives sur les éspaces urbaines rénouvelées.Mots clé: cartographie culturelle, Bilbao, régénération urbaine, mémoire sociale, villes créatives

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