Contrived Dereliction: Employing an aesthetic of decay at mining heritage sites

Conventional descriptions place conservation activities between the two poles of active restorative intervention and passive abandonment. This paper proposes that site stewards at mining heritage sites often follow presentation strategies that sit outside this neat dualism. Drawing on material presented in the form of three case studies, this paper identifies the actions these strategies entail and considers the results in terms of an aesthetic of decay. To consolidate the argument, a new overarching term is introduced to describe this strategy: contrived dereliction, in order to foreground its essential features. The paper then outlines the advantages, limitations and requirements of contrived dereliction as a heritage management and presentation practice.

Cultural valuation and biodiversity conservation in the Upper Guinea forest, West Africa

The cultural valuation of biodiversity has taken on renewed importance over the last two decades as the ecosystem services framework has become widely adopted. Conservation initiatives increasingly use ecosystem service frameworks to render tropical forest landscapes and their peoples legible to market-oriented initiatives such as REDD+ and biodiversity offsetting schemes. Ecosystem service approaches have been widely criticized by scholars in the social sciences and humanities for their narrow focus on a small number of easily quantifiable and marketable services and a reductionist and sometimes simplistic approach to culture. We address the need to combine methods from each of the “three cultures” of natural science, quantitative social science, and qualitative social science/humanities in conceptualizing the relationship between cultural valuation and biodiversity conservation. We combine qualitative data with forest inventories and a quantitative index of cultural value to evaluate the relationship between cultural valuation and biodiversity conservation in Upper Guinea forest in Liberia, West Africa. Our study focuses on “sacred agroforests,” spaces that are associated with Mande macro-language speaking groups such as the Loma. We demonstrate that sacred agroforests are associated with different cultural values compared with secondary forests. Although biodiversity and biomass are similar, sacred agroforests exhibit a different species composition, especially of culturally salient species, increasing overall landscape agro-biodiversity. Sacred agroforests are also shaped and conserved by local cultural institutions revolving around ancestor worship, ritual, and the metaphysical conceptual category “salɛ.” We conclude that to understand the relationship between cultural valuation and biodiversity conservation, interpretivist approaches such as phenomenology should be employed alongside positivist ecosystem service frameworks.

Percepção ambiental do patrimônio cultural: estudo de caso na Cidade Alta e Ribeira em Natal-RN

Contemporary studies have shown that the evolution of the heritage concepts is accompanied by an affirmation of the importance of social participation in recognizing heritage values and in managing cultural assets. We used the Brazilian context to emphasize the challenges for democratizing this process. This problematic is discussed based on the cases of Cidade Altaand Ribeira, neighborhoods that date from the formation of Natal-RNand have cultural assets recognized by levels of government. The study builds elements to answer the research question: what meanings and representations does the culturalheritage in the case study have for its users? The research method analyzes the representations and the meanings of the neighborhoods, firstly is based on historiographical studies, memories records of the city and on the process of heritage management. Secondly, it isbased on the field research, it is structured in environmental perception studies (areas of Environmental Psychology, Architecture and Urbanism) and has been applied with users with different bonds with the studied environment (residents, workers and visitors). The data were obtained with the multi-method which included direct observation, questionnaire survey and mentalmaps (that replicate Kevin Lynch). The analysis of result verified the research hypothesis, emphasizing aspects of the relationship between users and cultural heritage relevant to strengthening collective memory, local identity, contributing to heritage management. Among the results, the socio-environmental image obtained which emphasized a "cultural axis" linkingboth studied neighborhoods and confirms the influences of elements rein the memories records of the city and in the area s management. Identified aspects to strengthen the relationship between the users and cultural assets, such as the presence of placeswith affective ties to certain groups, as well as the need to fight off negative images (of degradation and insecurity) associated to the site and also expand the participation of the population, including residents, in policies and cultural activities. After all, recognition of value and the involvement of societycultural assets have the potential of contribute to integrate city development with heritage conservation

Papel do turista na conservação do património cultural e natural

Resumo O estudo realizado no âmbito deste relatório centra-se numa análise do papel do turista na conservação do património natural e cultural, em particular do Parque Nacional da Tijuca, no Rio de Janeiro. Os objetivos definidos para este trabalho são dilucidar o conceito de turismo cultural nas suas inter-relações com o ecoturismo; compreender o estado da arte em relação à intervenção do terceiro setor (ONG associações, fundações) e do turista particular na conservação do património; caracterizar o Parque Nacional da Tijuca; caracterizar a Amigos do Parque; e por fim indagar sobre a predisposição do turista para se associar à Associação dos Amigos do Parque Nacional da Tijuca. Para isso foi concebido um inquérito, realizado pela estagiária aos turistas que visitavam o parque, fazendo assim uma recolha de dados que serviram de base para as conclusões deste trabalho, levando no fim à proposta de algumas estratégias e diretivas a seguir para atrair novos associados, em particular turistas. Os resultados levam a concluir que no geral o turista não está predisposto a contribuir para a conservação e associar-se à Amigos do Parque. A percentagem de turistas que afirmaram estar predispostos a associarem-se foi de apenas 5%, sendo maioritariamente de turistas com idades entre os 25 e os 44 anos, com formação superior e provenientes dos países da América do Sul. O turista foi também questionado quanto à predisposição para fazer uma doação pontual, para a qual a taxa de respostas positiva foi mais elevada com 22%, com a contribuição também de turistas europeus. Apesar destes valores, o número de visitantes anuais do Parque Nacional da Tijuca aumenta a cada ano (prevendo-se que continue a aumentar), sendo que em 2014 foi de 3.086.207 de pessoas, e destes, cerca de 72% foram turistas. É importante conseguir o apoio destes turistas através da associação e através de doação, já que é relevante não só a nível financeiro, como também a nível de internacionalização e reconhecimento da associação e do parque, o que levará a uma maior rede de associados. Palavras-chave: ecoturismo; terceiro setor; conservação; Associação dos Amigos do Parque Nacional da Tijuca vii Abstract The study in this report focuses on an analysis of the tourist role in the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, in particular of the Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro. The goals set for this work are to elucidate the concept of cultural tourism in its interrelations with ecotourism; to understand the state of the art concerning the third sector (NGO associations, foundations) and private tourist in heritage conservation; to characterize the Tijuca National Park; to characterize the Friends of the Park; and finally to inquire about the willingness of the tourist to join the Association of Friends of the Tijuca National Park. For this a survey was designed and conducted by the intern to the tourists visiting the park, thus allowing for a collection of data that formed the basis to the conclusions of this work, leading at the end to the proposal of some strategies and policies to attract new members, particularly tourists. The results lead to the conclusion that as a rule the tourist is not willing to contribute to the conservation and join the Friends of the Park. The percentage of tourists who assumed they were willing to join the association was only 5%, and mostly tourists aged 25 and 44, with higher education, and from the South American countries. Tourists were also asked about their willingness for giving donations, for which the rate of positive responses was higher 22%, with the contribution of European tourists. Despite these numbers, the number of annual visitors to the Tijuca National Park increases every year (and it is expected to continue to increase). In 2014 ir received 3,086,207 visitors, and of these, about 72% were tourists. It is important to get the support of these tourists through association and through donation, since it is relevant not only financially, but also as a tool of the internationalization and recognition of the association and the park, which will lead to a larger network of associates. Keywords: ecotourism; third sector; conservation; Association of Friends of the Tijuca National Park

Le patrimoine culturel universitaire: une méthodologie pour la conservation et la valorisation des biens culturels mobiliers. Le cas de l'Instituto Superior José Antonio Echeverría à la CUJAE - La Havane

Une préoccupation importante pour le patrimoine culturel universitaire vient de se développer en Europe depuis les années 1980. Dans ce riche patrimoine sont inclus les biens mobiliers de valeur historique, scientifico-technique, académique, documentaire, artistique, architecturale et urbaine. Le continent européen a développé durant ces dernières années des actions significatives qui comprennent la création d’organisations, de comités à caractère international, ainsi que la rédaction de recommandations et règlements au niveau européen et institutionnel. Plusieurs universités ont pris des initiatives dans le domaine de la conservation et de la valorisation. À Cuba, il existe un grand intérêt pour le patrimoine culturel de la nation. Malgré la situation économique difficile depuis plusieurs années, Cuba a réussi des bons résultats dans la gestion des centres historiques et des biens patrimoniaux de la nation. Cependant, la thématique liée au patrimoine universitaire est encore peu discutée sur le territoire national, malgré depuis 2010, des actions pour étudier ce patrimoine sont mis en oeuvre grâce aux initiatives des universités de la capitale cubaine. Notre étude de cas, l’Instituto Superior Politécnico José Antonio Echeverría, appartenant au campus CUJAE1, fondé en 1964, a produit un patrimoine culturel universitaire de valeur scientifique, artistique et documentaire qui le distingue des autres universités. Malheureusement, ils existent plusieurs problèmes qui affectent les biens culturels mobiliers de l’ISPJAE et son campus. À partir de la situation actuelle, nous proposons une méthodologie en faveur de la conservation et la valorisation de ses biens, basée sur l’étude des tendances actuelles dans les universités européennes et cubaines étudiées. Les actions proposées favoriseront aussi les biens immobiliers, en tenant compte qu’ils ont un fort lien avec ceux mobiliers; ABSTRACT: An important concern for the university cultural heritage has just developed in Europe since the 1980s. The real asses of historic, scientific-technical, academic, documentary, artistic, architectural values are included in these rich heritages. The European continent developed during the last years significant actions which include the creation of organizations, committees with international character, as well as the writing of recommendations and regulations at the European and institutional level. Several universities took initiatives in the fields of the preservation and the valuation. In Cuba, there is a big interest for the cultural heritage of the nation. In spite of the difficult economic situation for several years, Cuba made a success of good results in the management of the historic centers and the patrimonial asses of the nation. However, the subject related to the university heritage is again little discussed in the national territory in spite of since 2010, several actions to study this heritage are implemented, thanks to the initiatives of the universities of the Cuban capital. Our case of study, Instituto Superior Politécnico José Antonio Echeverría, belonging to the campus CUJAE, established in 1964, produced a university cultural heritage of the scientific, artistic and documentary value, which distinguishes it from other universities. Unfortunately, there are several problems, which affect the real cultural asses of the ISPJAE and its campus. From the current situation, we propose a methodology in favor of the preservation and the valuation of its properties, based on the study of the current trends in the studied European and Cuban universities. The proposed actions will also favor the real property, taking into account that they have a strong link with those movable cultural asses; RIASSUNTO: Una preoccupazione importante per il patrimonio culturale universitario inizia a svilupparsi in Europa dagli anni 1980. In questo ricco patrimonio sono inclusi i beni mobili di valore storico, scientifico-tenico, accademico, documentario, artistico, architettonico e urbano. Il continente europeo ha sviluppato durante questi ultimi anni delle azioni significative che comprendono la creazione di organizazioni, di comitati internazionali, così come la redazione di raccomandazioni e regolamenti a livello europeo e istituzionale. Molte università hanno intrapreso delle iniziative nella conservazione e nella valorizzazione. A Cuba esiste un grande interesse per il patrimonio culturale della nazione. Malgrado la difficile situazione economica da molti anni Cuba ha ottenuto dei buoni risultati nella gestione di centri storici e di beni patrimoniali del Paese. Comunque, la tematica relativa al patrimonio universitario è ancora poco discussa anche se dal 2010 siano messe in opera delle azioni per studiare questo patrimonio, grazie alle iniziative di alcune università della capitale cubana. Il nostro caso di studio, l’Instituto Superior Politécnico José Antonio Echeverría –ISPJAE-, appartenente al campus CUJAE fondato nel 1964, ha prodotto un patrimonio culturale universitario di valore scientifico, artistico e documentale che la distinguono delle altre università. Purtroppo, esistono molti problemi che influenzano i beni culturali mobili dell’ISPJAE e del suo campus. A partire della situazione attuale e facendo parte di questa ricerca, si propone una metodologia a favore della conservazione e della valorizzazione dei loro beni fondata sullo studio delle tendenze attuali in università europee e cubane. Alcune delle azioni proposte sono finalizzate e destinate anche ai beni immobili, tenendo conto che questi hanno un forte rapporto con i beni mobili.

Os museus e o património cultural imaterial: Estratégias para o desenvolvimento de boa práticas

omando como referência fundamental o trabalho desenvolvido pela UNESCO em matéria de proteção do Património Cultural Imaterial (PCI), muito particularmente a Convenção para a Salvaguarda do Património Cultural Imaterial (2003), considerou-se oportuno refletir sobre as implicações que este enfoque traz para os museus. São indiscutíveis as repercussões que este instrumento trouxe para o reconhecimento da importância do PCI à escala internacional, motivando um crescendo de iniciativas em tomo da sua salvaguarda. São vários os agentes envolvidos na preservação deste património, no entanto o International Council of Museums (ICOM) reconhece um papel central aos museus nesta matéria. Mas para responder a este repto, os museus terão que repensar as suas estratégias de forma a relacionar-se mais com o PCI, contrariando uma longa tradição profundamente enraizada na cultura material. O presente estudo reflete sobre as possibilidades de actuação dos museus no sentido de dar resposta aos desafios da Convenção 2003, sendo certo que a partir das catividades dos museus é possível encontrar formas de estudar e de dar visibilidade a este património. Em função das especificidades de cada museu, podem ser encontradas estratégias de salvaguarda do PCI, entre as quais se pode incluir o inventário e a documentação (audiovisual, texto, áudio, imagem), a investigação, a divulgação através de exposições e publicações, difusão através da internet, educação não formal, entre outras actividades. Alguns museus começaram já a desenvolver abordagens integradas para a salvaguarda do PCI, cujos exemplos se apresentam. Este tema suscita vários desafios, implicando práticas museológicas inovadoras que possam reflectir o papel dos museus como promotores da diversidade e criatividade cultural. ABSTRACT: Recalling the UNESCO's work towards the protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), in particular the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted in 2003, I took this opportunity to reflect upon the implications that this recognition brings to museums. The overwhelming success of this document has raised the importance of ICH at international level, motivating a growing number of initiatives towards its safeguard. Accordingly, to the 2003 Convention, there are many agents involved in the preservation of this heritage, yet the International Council of Museums (ICOM) recognizes a central role for museums. Nevertheless, to face this challenge, museums will have to rethink their relationship with ICH in opposition to their deep rooted tradition in material culture. The present study reflects upon the possibilities that museums have to answer the changeling 2003 Convention, recognizing that it’s possible through museum activities to find ways to study and give visibility to ICH. According to each museum specificities, it seems clear that strategies can be engaged in order to promote the safeguard of ICH, including inventory and documentation (audiovisual, audio, text and image), research, promotion through exhibitions, publications, dissemination trough internet and other means, informal education, among other activities. Many museums have already started exploring integrated approaches towards the safeguard of ICH and some of these examples are presented in this study. This theme is challenging, implying innovative museum practices which reflect on museums role towards the promotion of cultural diversity and creativity.

La recepción del Mamita Yunai de Carlos Luis Fallas en Italia y Francia: entre la proximidad lingüística y la divergencia cultural

El siguiente texto intenta ser una aportación a la historia de la traducción. Más concretamente, se analizan aspectos sobre la recepción de Mamita Yunai de Carlos Luis Fallas en Italia y Francia. Con la observación, en un primer estadio, de las condiciones de recepción de la obra en estos países se da una idea sobre el ámbito cultural en que se movieron las traducciones. En una segunda parte, se describen las traducciones (sobre todo, en sus factores culturales) para observar si el patrimonio cultural costarricense se ha mantenido en las versiones francesa e italiana.The following text is intended as a contribution to the history of translation.  Specifically, we will analyze the reception of Mamita Yunai by Carlos Luis Fallas in Italy and France. In the first part, the observation of the conditions of reception of the novel in each of the countries provides an idea about the cultural environment where the translated versions were published. In the second part we will analyze the translations (their cultural elements, in particular) in order to observe whether the Costa Rican cultural heritage has been kept alive in the Italian and French versions.

Percepção ambiental do patrimônio cultural: estudo de caso na Cidade Alta e Ribeira em Natal-RN

Contemporary studies have shown that the evolution of the heritage concepts is accompanied by an affirmation of the importance of social participation in recognizing heritage values and in managing cultural assets. We used the Brazilian context to emphasize the challenges for democratizing this process. This problematic is discussed based on the cases of Cidade Altaand Ribeira, neighborhoods that date from the formation of Natal-RNand have cultural assets recognized by levels of government. The study builds elements to answer the research question: what meanings and representations does the culturalheritage in the case study have for its users? The research method analyzes the representations and the meanings of the neighborhoods, firstly is based on historiographical studies, memories records of the city and on the process of heritage management. Secondly, it isbased on the field research, it is structured in environmental perception studies (areas of Environmental Psychology, Architecture and Urbanism) and has been applied with users with different bonds with the studied environment (residents, workers and visitors). The data were obtained with the multi-method which included direct observation, questionnaire survey and mentalmaps (that replicate Kevin Lynch). The analysis of result verified the research hypothesis, emphasizing aspects of the relationship between users and cultural heritage relevant to strengthening collective memory, local identity, contributing to heritage management. Among the results, the socio-environmental image obtained which emphasized a "cultural axis" linkingboth studied neighborhoods and confirms the influences of elements rein the memories records of the city and in the area s management. Identified aspects to strengthen the relationship between the users and cultural assets, such as the presence of placeswith affective ties to certain groups, as well as the need to fight off negative images (of degradation and insecurity) associated to the site and also expand the participation of the population, including residents, in policies and cultural activities. After all, recognition of value and the involvement of societycultural assets have the potential of contribute to integrate city development with heritage conservation

El patrimonio cultural tangible e intangible articulado a la ordenación territorial aplicado al caso del cantón Paltas provincia de Loja

En el Ecuador la base legal como la Constitución del 2008 y el Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y descentralización (COOTAD), establecen la organización político administrativa del territorio en diferentes niveles de gobierno, sean estos regiones, provincias, cantones, parroquias rurales y también de régimen especial, para ello estos niveles adquieren funciones de integridad para realizar legislación, ejecución, fiscalización y de participación ciudadana, en donde se alcanzará y se promoverá el desarrollo sustentable en el marco del plan nacional del buen vivir. Para lograr este legado, los diferentes Gobiernos Autónomos Descentralizados deben elaborar y ejecutar el Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial (POT) y el Plan de Desarrollo y Ordenamiento Territorial (PDOT), de acuerdo a sus competencias de circunscripción territorial. Por competencia exclusiva les corresponde a los gobiernos municipales " formular, aprobar y evaluar los planes, programas y proyectos destinados a la preservación, mantenimiento y difusión del patrimonio arquitectónico, cultural y natural de su circunscripción..... Para el efecto, el patrimonio en referencia será considerado en todas sus expresiones tangibles e intangible...” (COOTAD Art. 144). Lamentablemente la mayoría de estos gobiernos municipales poco o nada han incorporado el patrimonio cultural tangible e intangible en sus fases de análisis de, diagnóstico, propuesta y modelo gestión. Como base fundamental tomaremos la guía metodológica para la elaboración de planes de desarrollo y ordenamiento que presenta la SENPLADES en el año 2014y la propuesta que realiza el Dr. Domingo Gómez Orea en su libro Ordenación Territorial 2da edición, de ahí se propone una alternativa metodológica de articulación del patrimonio cultural y ordenamiento territorial. Y para lograr este objetivo, utilizaremos la información disponible que cuenta el Instituto nacional de Patrimonio Cultural (INPC) en su sistema informatizado que se encuentra en la página Web www.inpc.gob.ec, denominado Sistema de Información Patrimonial Cultural del Ecuador (SIPCE), esta base de información que contiene fichas de inventario en sus diferentes ámbitos culturales como inmuebles, muebles, documentos. Arqueológicos y manifestaciones inmateriales, previamente analizadas y georreferenciadas nos permitirán territorializar en el espacio cantonal y con ello poder realizar un análisis integrado con los otros componentes como es el medio físico, poblacional, económico, núcleos de población etc. Esta nueva metodología permitirá visualizar, conocer, aprender y empodéranos del patrimonio cultural material e inmaterial, con aquellas manifestaciones culturales y tradicionales que existen y se encuentran en vigencia. También poder recuperar y rescatar aquellas que están en peligro de desaparecer, este potencial cultural será una gran posibilidad de generar emprendimientos y desarrollo sustentable. La manera más idónea de concretar y fomentar este desarrollo sustentable en territorio será a través de la formulación de programas, planes y proyectos que deberán plantearse en los planes de ordenamiento territorial y los planes de desarrollo territorial. Finalmente para comprobar esta nueva propuesta metodológica de articulación entre el patrimonio cultural y el ordenamiento territorial, la aplicaremos al cantón Paltas de la provincia de Loja.

Combined Use of NMR, LC-ESIMS and Antifungal Tests for Rapid Detection of Bioactive Lipopeptides Produced by Bacillus

The science and technology interact with the art in several ways. Biotechnological coupled with analytical approaches can play an important role in protecting and preserving cultural heritage for future generations. Many microorganisms influenced by environmental conditions are the main responsible for biological contamination in built heritage. Biocides based on chemical compounds have been used to mitigate this problem. Thus, it is vitally important to develop proper remediation actions based on environmentally innocuous alternative. Bacillus specie is emerging as an optimistic alternative for built heritage treatment due to their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with antagonistic activities against many fungal pathogens. Therefore, the intent of this work was to access a rapid evaluation of antifungal potential of bioactive metabolites produced by Bacillus strains and simultaneously their characterization using spectroscopic (NMR) and chromatographic techniques (LCESI- MS). The high antifungal activity obtained for Bacillus sp. active compounds produced in this study confirms the great potential to suppress biodeteriogenic fungi growth on historical artworks. Additionally, the proposed methodology allowed to access bioactive metabolites produced without need of the laborious total previous isolation and could be used as a viable alternative to be employed for screening and production of new green biocides.

Cultural Values Change in the Rehabilitation of Historic Schools in Portugal

Despite the importance of the preservation of the historic built environment for the benefit of present and future generations, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of architectural rehabilitation decisions on the cultural significance of historic buildings. Architectural heritage conservation literature has focused almost exclusively on providing principles and guidelines, describing intervention methodologies, and discussing predicted impacts of design on material values. This thesis argues that a focus on the actual effects is needed if the sociocultural sustainability of historic buildings significance is to be achieved. Supported by an extensive literature review and informed by personal insights from the researcher’s everyday practice, an adapted model of the Theory of Change based on Weiss (1995) was designed, providing a tool to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation on cultural significance [ERECS]. Using a selection of six recently rehabilitated historic secondary schools in Portugal (liceus), this research investigated architectural decisions and their effects on the cultural values of this building typology for education, focusing on three objectives, corresponding to three stages of interventions: understanding the existing cultural significance, identifying the design strategies applied and assessing the short-term effects of design decisions on the cultural values. Stressing the role of stakeholders in rehabilitation processes, data were collected from the buildings and architectural projects, the decision makers in the conservation process, and the school community. Although confirming that the evaluation of the effects of architectural decisions on cultural values is a complex task, the findings demonstrate that the historic liceus have historical, architectural and sociocultural values, and whilst strategies did not value social values, material cultural values were generally considered and preserved, contributing to the enhancement of intangible values. The implications of this theory-based and evidence-based research highlight the importance of evaluating actual effects for cultural heritage theory, architectural conservation practice and heritage management policy.

Capturing Australian indigenous perception of virtual landscape

This short paper presents a means of capturing non spatial information (specifically understanding of places) for use in a Virtual Heritage application. This research is part of the Digital Songlines Project which is developing protocols, methodologies and a toolkit to facilitate the collection and sharing of Indigenous cultural heritage knowledge, using virtual reality. Within the context of this project most of the cultural activities relate to celebrating life and to the Australian Aboriginal people, land is the heart of life. Australian Indigenous art, stories, dances, songs and rituals celebrate country as its focus or basis. To the Aboriginal people the term “Country” means a lot more than a place or a nation, rather “Country” is a living entity with a past a present and a future; they talk about it in the same way as they talk about their mother. The landscape is seen to have a spiritual connection in a view seldom understood by non-indigenous persons; this paper introduces an attempt to understand such empathy and relationship and to reproduce it in a virtual environment.

Social beings

In this chapter we discuss some significant theories and models of social development. In doing so we will contemplate the nature and force of peer group influences as well as the influences of families, cultural heritage and lived experience. The chapter will consider birth order issues, family structures, responsibilities, pressures and family relationships and their impact on teaching and learning through adolescence. We will also discuss common issues that emerge in schools such as bullying, truancy, and academic performance problems from a social perspective.

View from a bridge : what makes a musical city

The attention paid by the British music press in 1976 to the release of The Saints first single “I’m Stranded” was the trigger for a commercial and academic interest in the Brisbane music scene which still has significant energy. In 2007, Brisbane was identifed by Billboard Magazine as a “hot spot” of independent music. A place to watch. Someone turned a torch on this town, had a quick look, moved on. But this town has always had music in it. Some of it made by me. So, I’m taking this connection of mine, and working it into a contextual historical analysis of the creative lives of Brisbane musicians. I will be interviewing a number of Brisbane musicians. These interviews have begun, and will continue to be be conducted in 2011/2012. I will ask questions and pursue memories that will encompass family, teenage years, siblings, the suburbs, the city, venues, television and radio; but then widen to welcome the river, the hills and mountains, foes and friends, beliefs and death. The wider research will be a contextual historical analysis of the creative lives of Brisbane musicians. It will explore the changing nature of their work practices over time and will consider the notion, among other factors, of ‘place’ in both their creative practice and their creative output. It will also examine how the presence of the practitioners and their work is seen to contribute to the cultural life of the city and the creative lives of its citizens into the future. This paper offers an analysis of this last notion: how does this city see its music-makers? In addition to the interviews, over 300 Brisbane musicians were surveyed in September 2009 as part of a QUT-initiated recorded music event (BIGJAM). Their responses will inform the production of this paper.

Rethinking regional green space networks in China

Ecological networks are often represented as utopian webs of green meandering through cities, across states, through regions and even across a country (Erickson, 2006, p.28; Fabos, 2004, p.326; Walmsley, 2006). While this may be an inspiring goal for some in developed countries, the reality may be somewhat different in developing countries. China, in its shift to urbanisation and suburbanisation, is also being persuaded to adjust its planning schemes according to these aspirational representations of green spaces (Yu et al, 2006, p.237; Zhang and Wang, 2006, p.455). The failure of other countries to achieve regional goals of natural and cultural heritage protection on the ground in this way (Peterson et al, 2007; Ryan et al, 2006; von Haaren and Reich, 2006) suggests that there may be flaws in the underpinning concepts that are widely circulated in North American and Western European literature (Jongman et al, 2004; Walmsley, 2006). In China, regional open space networks, regional green infrastructure or regional ecological corridors as we know them in the West, are also likely to be problematic, at least in the foreseeable future. Reasons supporting this view can be drawn from lessons learned from project experience in landscape planning and related fields of study in China and overseas. Implementation of valuable regional green space networks is problematic because: • the concept of region as a spatial unit for planning green space networks is ambiguous and undefinable for practical purposes; • regional green space networks traditionally require top down inter-governmental cooperation and coordination which are generally hampered by inequalities of influence between and within government agencies; • no coordinating body with funding powers exists for regional green space development and infrastructure authorities are still in transition from engineering authorities; • like other infrastructure projects, green space is likely to become a competitive rather than a complementary resource for city governments; • stable long-term management, maintenance and uses of green space networks must fit into a ‘family’ social structure rather than a ‘public good’ social structure, particularly as rural and urban property rights are being re-negotiated with city governments; and • green space provision is a performance indicator of urban improvement in cities within the city hierarchy and remains quantitatively-based (land area, tree number and per capita share) rather than qualitatively-based with local people as the focus.