Más allá de la mercancíaformatos al margen de la cultura oficial

Abstract

The presented article examines a series of artistic initiatives that are managed outside the usual official cultural models of two case study cities: Bilbao and Guanajuato (Mexico). The analysis addresses the factors that facilitate the creation of the «cultural city» model as a means to be adopted by cities that seek an economic spur from culture. In both cases, culture plays an important role in the creation of a city brand: as the cities become new consumer products, their cultural offer is standardized. The artistic projects undertaken are positioned outside the official sphere while being embedded in the specific contexts and in the identity of each place. The spaces that have been used or that have motivated each project manifest a strong symbolic and historical load, and display their own forms of associationism and self-sustaining activities.