Rethinking the growth machine logic in cultural development: Urban sculpture planning in Shanghai

Abstract

Using urban sculpture planning in Shanghai as a case study, this article aims to understand the process of planning cultural projects in China and to evaluate the applicability of the growth machine model to the social dynamics underlying cultural development in Chinese cities. Based on interviews with sculpture planning officers in 10 districts and the municipality, as well as 56 companies that have been involved in sculpture projects in Shanghai, this article argues that the growth machine model is of limited applicability to urban sculpture planning in Shanghai. Instead, a public-sector-centred tripartite model is more applicable for the following reasons. First, most cooperative relationships in key cultural development projects engage state-patronized public corporations instead of the private sector. Here the government plays a dominant role. Second, public–private partnership is rare and loosely formed. The broadly defined concept of shared cultural capital that includes personal artistic tastes, altruistic motivations, and brand building concerns engenders public–private cooperation. Third, the local state adopts a laissez-faire approach to most of the private-sector-invested cultural projects that the government considers to be less crucial to its vision for Shanghai’s art landscape.