A key reference ... it also acts as a significant point of orientation for sociologists and other researchers exploring issues of culture [providing] a clear path to explore the field. - David Wright, British Journal of Sociology
The combination of theoretical rigour and empirical insight of this succinct critical introduction to cultural policy makes it an invaluable reference work for students and researchers of cultural and public policy in general. - Christiaan De Beukelaer, Cultural Trends
Provides a rich exegesis and bibliography for future researchers and raises a series of pressing questions and issues ... [it] deserves a wide audience. - Jennifer Craik, Australian Journal of Public Administration
Concise and critically astute. - Ruth Adams, LSE Review of Books
Dave O'Brien's much needed textbook succeeds in integrating cutting edge sociological research on social change and inequality with an analysis of urbanism, creativity, and cultural value. This book is now the state of the art and will be a crucial resource for all students of cultural policy. - Mike Savage, Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
O'Brien's book strikes the right balance between a well-made introduction to all basic notions and issues in the cultural policy, and a wide array of rich and always stimulating case studies. It is a timely book, which helps rethink and reinvent new ways of practicing cultural policy in a moment of great challenges for the creative industries. - Jan Baetens, University of Leuven, Belgium.
This is a timely, and pertinent text in the arena of cultural policy, addressing all the main issues in relation to cultural policy and its various manifestations in the UK. This is a text book that is long overdue and an essential for undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of disciplines, including Cultural Management, Tourism Management/Development, Museum Management and Curatorship, Arts Management etc. - Dr. Clare Carruthers, University of Ulster
In his broad-ranging and engaging book Dave O'Brien provides a welcome, distinctive and enriching political science perspective to key issues and debates in cultural policy studies. The result is a thought-provoking new contribution to understanding cultural value as one of the defining debates of twenty-first century British cultural policy. - Eleonora Belfiore, University of Warwick, UK
O'Brien's urgent, wide-ranging and original synthesis of ideas provides a limpid and challenging framework for anyone wishing to make sense of contemporary cultural policy and its importance. It will prove invaluable for those of us teaching future cultural workers and researchers as well as those in the industries or involved in the formulation of policy and its assessment. Henceforth, when I hear the word culture, I'll reach for O'Brien. - Dr. Paul Long, Birmingham City University, UK
Dave O'Brien brings a keenly critical eye to debates in the cultural/creative sector of British life. This volume ably brings together relevant work in political science and sociology as well as the author's own research. The result will be a landmark! - Toby Miller, Professor, University of California, USA
