Meike Lettau - Böcker

This book discusses the role of cultural practices and policy for sustainable development in West Africa across different artistic disciplines, including performance, video, theatre, community arts and cultural heritage. Based on ethnographic field research in local communities, the book presents findings on current debates of cultural sustainability in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Benin. It provides a unique perspective connecting cultural studies, conflict studies and practical peacebuilding approaches through the arts. The first part pays particular attention to aspects of social cohesion and the circumstances of internally displaced persons e. g. caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria. The second part focuses on cultural policy issues and challenges in the context of sustainable development, investigating participatory approaches and bottom-up processes, the role of governments and civil society, as well as performing arts organizations and universities in policy making and implementation processes. Performing Sustainability in West Africa presents research results and new methods on the role of artistic and cultural practices in conflict situations as well as current debates in cultural policy for researchers, academics, NGOs and students in cultural studies, sustainable development studies and African studies.The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003261025, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

This book discusses the role of cultural practices and policy for sustainable development in West Africa across different artistic disciplines, including performance, video, theatre, community arts and cultural heritage. Based on ethnographic field research in local communities, the book presents findings on current debates of cultural sustainability in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Benin. It provides a unique perspective connecting cultural studies, conflict studies and practical peacebuilding approaches through the arts. The first part pays particular attention to aspects of social cohesion and the circumstances of internally displaced persons e. g. caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria. The second part focuses on cultural policy issues and challenges in the context of sustainable development, investigating participatory approaches and bottom-up processes, the role of governments and civil society, as well as performing arts organizations and universities in policy making and implementation processes. Performing Sustainability in West Africa presents research results and new methods on the role of artistic and cultural practices in conflict situations as well as current debates in cultural policy for researchers, academics, NGOs and students in cultural studies, sustainable development studies and African studies.The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003261025, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

The book critically examines the epistemological disparities between colonialism and capitalism-critical cultural practices and Western art institutions. It does so through the lens of documenta 15, focusing on ruangrupa’s lumbung approach, which confronts Eurocentric cultural norms and stimulates a shift towards pluriversal horizons, demonstrating the transformative potential of alternative methodologies.This book provides a comprehensive understanding of how collective methods and practices can cultivate pluriversal horizons in cultural institutions and policies, informed by extensive field research at documenta 15. The key elements of the approach include interdisciplinary perspectives, linking theory and practice and exploring under-discussed dimensions of epistemological disparities. It offers practical and theoretical insights into the development of frameworks for cultural practices and policies critical of coloniality and discrimination, recognizes the coexistence of equally valuable epistemes and aims to dismantle Eurocentric structures in the cultural sector.This valuable contribution presents relevant insights for those interested in decolonial studies, diversity frameworks in cultural institutions, and individuals engaged in the critique and transformation of Eurocentric practices within the cultural sector. It will appeal to scholars, researchers and practitioners in fields such as cultural studies, sociology, political science, cultural geography, cultural policy and art education, as well as professionals and policymakers.

The book critically examines the epistemological disparities between colonialism and capitalism-critical cultural practices and Western art institutions. It does so through the lens of documenta 15, focusing on ruangrupa’s lumbung approach, which confronts Eurocentric cultural norms and stimulates a shift towards pluriversal horizons, demonstrating the transformative potential of alternative methodologies.This book provides a comprehensive understanding of how collective methods and practices can cultivate pluriversal horizons in cultural institutions and policies, informed by extensive field research at documenta 15. The key elements of the approach include interdisciplinary perspectives, linking theory and practice and exploring under-discussed dimensions of epistemological disparities. It offers practical and theoretical insights into the development of frameworks for cultural practices and policies critical of coloniality and discrimination, recognizes the coexistence of equally valuable epistemes and aims to dismantle Eurocentric structures in the cultural sector.This valuable contribution presents relevant insights for those interested in decolonial studies, diversity frameworks in cultural institutions, and individuals engaged in the critique and transformation of Eurocentric practices within the cultural sector. It will appeal to scholars, researchers and practitioners in fields such as cultural studies, sociology, political science, cultural geography, cultural policy and art education, as well as professionals and policymakers.