Cultural quarters and urban regeneration – the case of Cathedral Quarter Belfast

Abstract

Elements of culture and cultural policy have now become firmly integrated within urban design and regeneration practice. Culture is recognised as a driver of economic renewal and many cities have utilised culture as an additional means of achieving regeneration outcomes through the application of designated cultural quarters. This study provides a critical evaluation of the regeneration and development of Cathedral Quarter Belfast, exploring the integration of cultural and economic strategies to encourage greater cultural provision and economic development as well as examining the role of culture as a catalyst in the regeneration process. It does so by utilising a mixed methodology incorporating qualitative key informant interviews and a quantitative survey of visitors to the quarter. This research examines and challenges existing theories in relation to culture-led regeneration making a valuable contribution to the literature on the application of cultural quarters and identifies areas for further investigation.