Cultural Capital

Cultural Capital examines the changes in British cultural policy and arts funding from New Labour through the 2008 financial crisis and into the Conservative-led coalition government. Hewison traces how the rhetoric around culture shifted from art's intrinsic value to its economic and social utility. The book analyzes key policies, institutions, and figures who shaped Britain's cultural landscape during this period, including Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Through research and first-hand accounts, it documents the growing emphasis on measuring cultural value through metrics and targets. Drawing from his experience as a cultural historian and critic, Hewison maps the transformation of the UK's cultural sector under the pressures of marketization and austerity. His analysis connects these changes to broader shifts in British society and politics between 1997-2014. The work ultimately raises fundamental questions about the role of culture in society and whether the financialization of the arts has undermined their core purpose and public benefit. The tension between cultural value and economic value emerges as a central theme.

Readers value Hewison's detailed research and documentation of how New Labour's cultural policies impacted British arts funding and institutions from 1997-2010. Reviews note the book provides a thoughtful critique of the commercialization of culture and the focus on economic metrics in arts evaluation. Positive mentions: - Clear analysis of policy decisions and their consequences - Strong historical context for cultural funding changes - Thorough examination of specific case studies like Tate Modern Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style that can be hard to follow - Some sections become too focused on administrative details - Limited discussion of alternative approaches or solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (14 ratings) Amazon UK: 4/5 (6 ratings) Sample review: "Meticulously researched but could benefit from a more accessible writing style. The policy analysis is valuable but gets bogged down in bureaucratic minutiae at times." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎨 Author Robert Hewison coined the term "heritage industry" in 1987, which became a widely-used concept in cultural studies and tourism research 📚 The book examines how the UK's cultural policy shifted dramatically during the New Labour years (1997-2010), when arts funding increased by 90% 🏛️ Cultural Capital tracks the transformation of British museums from traditional institutions into "creative industries," using Tate Modern's development as a key case study 💷 The book reveals how the term "creative industries" was deliberately chosen over "cultural industries" in UK policy to emphasize economic potential over artistic value 🎭 Hewison documents how public arts funding in Britain became increasingly tied to measurable outcomes and economic metrics, fundamentally changing how cultural organizations operate