Our host Stephanie Fortunato sits down with Rana Amirtahmasebi and Jason Schupbach, co-editors of The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning, to be released in December 2024.

The Handbook is the first survey of the latest and greatest thinking in urban cultural planning in 10 years, exploring approaches to bringing more cultural vibrancy and engagement in sustainable urban development. The book focuses on the spatial and social organization of urban spaces that facilitate artistic production, foster community well-being, and nurture expressions of civic identity.

References

• The Routledge Handbook of Urban Cultural Planning: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Urban-Cultural-Planning/Amirtahmasebi-Schupbach/p/book/9781032509907
• Mark Schuster, professor of urban studies and planning, an expert on arts funding policies: https://news.mit.edu/2008/obit-schuster-0227
• UNESCO Culture in city reconstruction and recovery: position paper: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265981
• Khaled al-Asaad, a Syrian archaeologist and the head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55977964
• Buddhas of Bamiyan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhas_of_Bamiyan
• Rebuilding the Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: https://whc.unesco.org/en/story-mostar-bridge/
• Roberto Bedoya, Cultural Affairs Manager, City of Oakland: https://www.oaklandca.gov/staff/roberto-bedoya

Rana Amirtahmasebi Bio

Rana Amirtahmasebi is an economic development and cultural planning strategist and researcher. She is the founder of Eparque Urban Strategies in New York and previously worked at the World Bank, Aga Khan Programme on Islamic Architecture at MIT and several other entities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-amirtahmasebi-56a0667/

Jason Schupbach Bio

Jason Schupbach is the dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University. He is a nationally recognized expert in the role that arts and design play in improving communities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonschupbach/

Our host, Adrian Ellis speaks to Ore Disu, Director of The Institute, Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) on the mission and vision of MOWAA and how the institution is thinking about culture, museum praxis and the very idea of “The Museum” differently and within the African context.

External references:

• MOWAA website: https://wearemowaa.org/
• Museum of West African Art Announces the Opening of the MOWAA Institute: https://wearemowaa.org/mowaa-institute-launch-announcement/
• The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM): https://museum.ng/
• Igun Street: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igun_Street
• Benin Bronzes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Bronzes

Guest bio:
Ore Disu has led the MOWAA Institute since January 2022 as its first Director, bringing to it more than a decade of experience in cultural programming, research, and stakeholder management for early-stage organizations. Educated at the University of Cambridge (BA in Architecture) and University College London (MSc in Urban Development Planning), she has implemented grants and contributed to the efforts of non-profit organizations including the Ford Foundation, Goethe Institute, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Overseas Development Institute, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Africa Centre for Cities. From 2016 through 2019, she served in the UK’s Department for International Development as Senior Research Partnerships Manager for the agency’s governance and accountability program in Nigeria. She subsequently moved to a multi-national social enterprise, serving as the Government Relations and Partnerships Lead for pilot programs in Uganda, India, and Nigeria. She has been active as a consultant as the founding Executive Director of Nsibidi Institute in Lagos, Nigeria, and as an Associate of the UK-based firm The Policy Practice.

Our host, Hilary Knight speaks to Rob Cawston, Director of Digital and Service Transformation, National Library of Scotland on how the NLS is taking an ethical stance on the use of AI and how this work is tied to its mission and values.

External References:

• National Library of Scotland: https://www.nls.uk/
• National Library of Scotland AI Statement: https://data.nls.uk/projects/ai-statement/
• National Library of Scotland’s tools: https://data.nls.uk/tools/
• 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_SAG-AFTRA_strike
• Smithsonian’s AI Values Statement: https://datascience.si.edu/ai-values-statement
• Smithsonian’s co-authored the paper "Developing responsible AI practices at the Smithsonian Institution": https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.9.e113334

Bio:

Rob Cawston is the Director of Digital and Service Transformation at the National Library of Scotland and has previously managed digital programmes at the Scottish Government, National Museums Scotland, the Royal Institution, BAFTA and Chatham House. Rob is a graduate of the Oxford Cultural Leaders programme at the Said Business School (University of Oxford) and has served as an Advisory Board Member of Creative Lives supporting community and volunteer-led creative activity across Scotland.