Creative Geographies and Cultural Practices
Summary
The study of creative geographies and cultural practices investigates how artistic and cultural activities shape, represent and transform spaces across urban, rural and digital contexts. It combines insights from human geography, cultural studies, art history and anthropology to examine the interplay between material environments and lived experiences. Central concerns include spatial narrativity—how stories and symbols give meaning to places—and relational space, which highlights the dynamic interactions among social groups, cultural forms and environments. Research in this field addresses global challenges such as migration, climate change and social inequality, demonstrating how creative interventions can foster community cohesion, empower marginalised voices and promote sustainable urban and regional development. Practical applications range from community‐led public art installations and participatory mapping workshops to heritage conservation initiatives and environmental activism, underscoring the role of creativity in shaping more inclusive and resilient societies.
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Creative Geographies and Cultural Practices publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in creative geographies and cultural practices across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Creative geography: An interdisciplinary approach analysing how artistic and cultural practices produce, interpret and transform spatial relations.
Spatial narrativity: The process by which narratives and symbols confer meaning on places and landscapes.
Participatory art: Collaborative artistic practices that engage community members in the creation and interpretation of works, fostering shared authorship and social agency.
Drawing ethnography: The use of illustrative techniques to represent and analyse spatial experiences, especially in contexts where direct access is restricted.
References
- Participatory art and geography: Politics, publics, and space. Progress in Human Geography (2024).
- Making hidden spaces visible: Using drawing as a method to illuminate new geographies. Area (2018).
- Going unscripted: A call to critically engage storytelling methods and methodologies in geography and the medical‐health sciences. Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes (2017).
About these summaries
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