Cultural impact assessment: a literature review of current practice around the world Adriana Partal, RMIT Europe Headquarters in Barcelona Dr. Kim Dunphy Cultural Development Network, Victoria, Australia

The Cultural Development Network is an independent non-profit organisation that links local government, communities, artists and related agencies.  We advocate for the essential function of arts and cultural expression in the development of creative, healthy, engaged and sustainable communities. We support local government in their role of assisting and resourcing local communities to make and express their own culture.  www.culturaldevelopment.net.au Photo: Jorge de Araujo, Generations Conference, Melbourne 2009

Presentation overview Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Presentation overview GOAL a comprehensive international literature review on practices of cultural impact assessment (CIA) Definition: cultural impact assessment (CIA) Research approach Application of CIA Methodologies for undertaking CIA Methodological challenges Theoretical approaches, measures and assessment frameworks Timeframe Professional sectors Geographic locations

Origin and evolution of impact assessment (IA) Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Origin and evolution of impact assessment (IA) Late 60’S IA had its inception with the establishment of the practice of Environmental Impact Assessment 1970 The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in US was the first of many EA laws around the world 1980 Foundation of the International Association for Impact Assessment 2000’s Other impact assessment become well-established: economics, social services, health, etc.

Definition of cultural impact assessment (CIA) Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Definition of cultural impact assessment (CIA) * This is not about an assessment OF culture’s impact, but how to assess impacts ON culture. CIA: ‘ a process of evaluating the likely impacts of a proposed development on the way of life of a particular group or community of people (…), both beneficial and adverse, (…) that affect, for example, the values, belief systems, customary laws, language(s), customs, economy, relationships with the local environment and particular species, social organisation and traditions of the affected community’. International Network for Cultural Diversity's Working Group on Cultural Impact Assessment.

Cultural Regeneration Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Methodology: research approach Desk-based research Initial sample of 120 documents 70 articles analysed in-depth Search term: cultural impact Result: 24 articles Economic Impact Cultural Capital Value of Culture Cultural Regeneration Social Impact Cultural Strategies Cultural statistics

Application of CIA: timeframe and professional sectors involved Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Application of CIA: timeframe and professional sectors involved Late 1980’s Late 1990’s Mid 2000’s Earliest reference of CIA Methodology for measuring cultural impact of innovations such as new products, changes to an organisation, or even a new information system Largely related to initiatives involving indigenous people Environmental justice Indigenous cultural heritage Resource management Property and state property boundaries Conservation of indigenous landscape Mid 2000’s: broader application of CIA Cultural development Cultural heritage Local development Tourism Urban Planning Led and discussed by: consulting companies, universities, central and local governments. IFACCA, UNESCO, International Network for Cultural Diversity, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological diversity and IAIA (International Association for Impact Assessment)

Geographic locations of documented CIA initiatives Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Geographic locations of documented CIA initiatives

Documented methodologies for undertaking CIA Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Documented methodologies for undertaking CIA Mostly methodology not described More specification in projects related to indigenous issues THREE CONSISTENT STAGES Preparatory stage engaging communities screening scoping notifying people in the area Data collection identifying and describing: cultural resources, practices and beliefs in the area Consultation focus groups, interviews, public meetings with stakeholders including community members and government, persons knowledgeable about the historic and traditional practices

Methodological challenges identified Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Methodological challenges identified QUANTITATIVE DATA TIMESCALE RESEARCHERS’ SENSIBILITY CONTEXT- UALISATION Assessment is fraught: seemingly similar cultural phenomena have a different meaning for different peoples DEFINITIONAL Culture and cultural impact infrequently defined, leading to challenges in measurement of inadequately defined concept Limitations: Potentially inaccurate stakeholders Data might not count what needs to be counted, if it does not take account of oral educational models. Misinterpretation cultural realities, if analyses based on settler values. May not consider dysfunctional models of culture CIA processes with very limited timescales are risky. Measurement of impact over a longer time period offers greater probability of impacts being detected by researchers (Tanner, 2012) Well-developed sensibilities about Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge or oral history This is not ubiquitous amongst researcher and developers they work for (Nakamura, 2013)

No specific patterns or themes evident in the literature Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Theoretical approaches, measures, assessment frameworks documented No specific patterns or themes evident in the literature Ambivalence re desirability of universal and formal measurement (Häyrynen, 2004) because of potential for inappropriate homogenisation imposition of ideas of civilization based on majority norms or other hegemonic values inappropriate assumption of one-way cause/effect relationship

Theoretical approaches, measures, assessment frameworks Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Theoretical approaches, measures, assessment frameworks Circles of Sustainability model Global Cities Research Institute, RMIT University, Australia with UN Global Compact Cities Programme

Theoretical approaches, measures, assessment frameworks Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Theoretical approaches, measures, assessment frameworks Circles of Sustainability model Global Cities Research Institute, RMIT University, Australia with UN Global Compact Cities Programme

CIA is documented mostly as one aspect of a different type of IA Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Functions of CIA and relationship with other domains CIA is documented mostly as one aspect of a different type of IA ENVIRONMENTAL IA to understand how a new initiative impacts on indigenous culture also used in cases of legal dispute, strong correlation with cases of environmental and ecological law SOCIAL IA The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment define social impacts as including changes to “people’s culture - that is, their shared beliefs, customs, values and languages or dialect” (Vanclay, 2003).

1 2 3 New and divergent understanding of CIA Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy New and divergent understanding of CIA New use of term CIA emerges in the cultural sector Relating to cultural value debate, not about the value of culture in the broad sense of the term, but how funded cultural institutions measure the value of their activity Cultural sector Organisations working with “the arts, museums, libraries and heritage that receive public funding” (Holden, 2006). In this context, CIA is assessment of the impact of cultural activities, rather than an assessment of the impact of activities on culture. 1 2 3

Recommendations re potential for future applications of CIA Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy Recommendations re potential for future applications of CIA If culture is to be fully recognised as a dimension of sustainable development, there is a need for meaningful approaches to considering impact. CIA is necessary for the establishment of cultural statistics and indicators to achieve a more culturally sustainable society. Little published evidence of CIA in relation to culture as a dimension of broader sustainable development, including in local government. Therefore, new possibilities for application of CIA, particularly in local government where connection to and valuing of local culture/s is strong.

In conclusion: what the literature tells us Cultural impact assessment: a literature review, Partal and Dunphy In conclusion: what the literature tells us about cultural impact assessment ……. Culture … is consistently conceptualized in its broadest sense, as way of life, system of knowledge, beliefs, values and behaviours passed down. CIA… the process of evaluating the likely impacts of a proposed development on the way of life of a particular community. CIA…. is most frequently used re indigenous populations. Strong relationship between CIA and other IA approaches; often subsidiary of environmental and social impact projects. The cultural sector use CIA to mean impacts of, rather than on culture. Recommendation: for broader use of CIA to understand the impacts of decisions on the culture/s of urban and rural communities. City, Finn Dunphy