The cultural turn in international aid: impacts and challenges for heritage and the creative industries

There exists a high volume of literature on international aid , yet few academic publications focus specifically on culture and international aid. This is particularly problematic, as the lack of research on this topic may be a main reason for the omission of a culture specific goal within the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the latest UN framework for international aid spending (2015-2030). This edited volume of commissioned papers aims to fill this gap through considering a wide and comprehensive range of issues related to culture and international aid, in both a critical and constructive manner. It assesses the reasons why international aid is provided for cultural projects, rather than for other causes. It also considers whether and how donor funded cultural projects can address global challenges, including post-conflict recovery, building peace and security, strengthening resilience or promoting human rights. Moreover, this book critically assesses the impact of international aid, the diverse power relations and inequalities created, as well as the interests served at international, national and/or local levels. When projects have failed, this book analyses the reasons for their failure, but also discusses the lessons learnt, whenever relevant. Another core theme of this volume concerns the influence of donors in privileging some forms of culture over others, creating or maintaining specific memories, identities, and interpretations of history, and the reasons for doing so. These rich discussions will be contextualised through a historical section which considers the definitions, approaches and discourses related to culture and aid at international and regional levels.