The Complex Geography of Cultural Networks

ABSTRACT This article examines the cultural sector as complex, sprawling, and uneven spatial networks, shaped by the interactions of people, institutions, goods and services. At the intersection of network science and geography, it synthesises how spatial network approaches have been applied to the study of cultural and creative industries, including art, museums, heritage, publishing, film, and music. Core concepts, such as small‐world topology, preferential attachment, homophily, and brokering, are contextualised to illuminate mechanisms of clustering and persistent inequalities in global cultural flows. While network science offers a compelling framework for understanding the sector's dynamics, the review also highlights its limitations, especially a tendency toward oversimplification and a lack of engagement with geographical thinking. It concludes by outlining a research agenda that calls for stronger integration with geographical theory, methodological innovation, and improved data on local cultural participation and inequalities.