Regeneration of Cultural Quarters: Public Art for Place Image or Place Identity?

Cities are increasingly seeking to encourage culture-related uses in particular areas, often designated as 'cultural quarters', to achieve regeneration outcomes, and public art is often applied in such quarters in order to promote place image and to enhance local identity. However, it may be argued that these aims are potentially contradictory, since the image that is projected may not necessarily reflect local identity. This is a critical issue in view of the need to achieve regeneration outcomes that are inclusive, broadly based and context sensitive. Nevertheless, the cases of public art schemes in Manchester's Northern Quarter and Belfast's Cathedral Quarter suggest that it is feasible to integrate aims in relation to image and identity by means of public art, and that the use of historical associations can provide a valuable means of linking image and identity. Acknowledgement The contribution of the University of Dundee Faculty of Arts and Social Science Small Grants Scheme to the funding of the research project from which this article is derived is gratefully acknowledged.