Cultural Policy as Regeneration Approach in Western Cities: A Case Study of Liverpool's RopeWalks

As the definition of cultural policy in the discourse of urban regeneration gradually becomes fragmented and very broad, this article attempts to come to terms with the width of cultural approaches that have been employed in post‐industrial cities. An examination of urban regeneration through cultural policy reveals that most cultural approaches can be classified into one or more of four general types: high‐profile projects, civic revitalisation, cultural industries and urban heritage. Each of these cultural approaches reflects different concepts concerning the nature of urban regeneration. All four cultural policy approaches make comparisons based on the characteristics of their physical construction and social activities. This article further turns to a critical examination of the strength and validity of cultural industries as a type of cultural policy approach used in the RopeWalks area in Liverpool, England.