The Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais (RCCS) of the Cities, Cultures and Architecture Research Group of the University of Coimbra, Portugal announces a call for papers on the theme 'Beyond the Creative City'.


Editors: Nancy Duxbury, Carlos Fortuna, José António Bandeirinha, and Paulo Peixoto
Cities, Cultures, and Architecture Research Group, Centre for Social Studies (CES), University of Coimbra, Portugal

The point of departure for this special issue is the politically prevalent but heavily critiqued trend for cities to participate in an international race for ‘hip’ promotional identities and economic competitiveness through investing in flagship architectural projects and building districts to attract mobile creative talent.

While contributing to interesting urban renewal and ‘economic re-invention’ strategies in many cities, these approaches also tended to neglect issues of social equity and inclusion, spawned dislocation of existing artist/creative communities, and favoured ‘big and flashy’ globally circulating art products (exhibits, performances, artists) over nurturing approaches to ‘authentic’ local cultures and heritage. While this approach is still evident, it is no longer seen as the only path to creative urban renewal and economic development, and there is growing need to propose and examine alternate approaches that are more culturally sensitive to local realities and issues; environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable; and attentive to issues of inclusion, justice, and multicultural realities.

The bright political and media spotlights on ‘creative city’ investments and initiatives – and the research attention placed on these developments – tend to have placed other socio-cultural options in the shadows. It is time to explore these alternate spaces, ideas, strategies, and socio-cultural forces at play, which may point to and elaborate alternate creative development patterns.

The issue seeks to bring together creative and interdisciplinary perspectives from socio-anthropology, arts and cultural studies, architecture, cultural policy, and other disciplines examining the organization, uses, and images of urban space. Topics of articles may analyze (but are not restricted to): urban lifestyles and means of resistance, socioeconomic conditions and empowerment of residents through artistic/cultural initiatives, the impacts of tourism and ‘creative city’ initiatives on cities over the last decade, affirmations of cultural expressions, and the democratic governance of cities.

Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais is a peer-reviewed journal. All submitted works are graded by three reviewers, and ranked for academic quality, originality, and relevance to the objectives and thematic scope of this issue.

The issue will be published in Portuguese with abstracts in French, English, and Portuguese. The journal will translate two non-Portuguese-language articles into Portuguese for the issue.

The issue will include approximately 6-8 articles and 4-5 book reviews.

Submissions
Articles may be submitted in the following languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Articles should not exceed 50,000 characters.
Articles should be accompanied by an abstract not exceeding 900 characters.
Papers should be sent in Word format by 31 March 2012 to the following e-mail address: rccs@ces.uc.pt

Key dates
International call for papers: 1 October 2011
Submission deadline: 31 March 2012
Notification of acceptance: July 2012
Publication of issue: December 2012

For further information
For further information about this special issue, please contact: Nancy Duxbury (duxbury@ces.uc.pt)
RCCS Information for Authors is available here: http://www.ces.uc.pt/rccs/normaspubrccs.pdf