- Costa, P.; Lopes, R. V. (2024) “Cultural policies in the Southern Peripheries: Implications for territorial policies”, presentation to the KISMIF International Conference 2024 “DIY Cultures, Democracy and Creative Participation”, Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 10th-13th July 2024 In contemporary globalized societies, public policies should have flexibility to adapt to the contexts and particularities of the communities and territories to which they are targeted. This is particularly relevant in cultural policies because symbolic, aesthetic and sociocultural aspects are central in their formulation and appreciation. The objectives and instruments of public action as well as the recognition of its impacts are contextual and territorially based. Drawing upon the experience of the European project “Stronger Peripheries: A southern Coallition”, supported by Creative Europe Program, this paper aims to discuss the challenges and specificities of cultural policies in such conditions. Being in “southern peripheries” context brings some common ground to approach these policies, regardless the specificities of the local/regional/national context of each partner of Stronger peripheries project. The identification of each institution or artist with a community or territory is necessarily complex and based on continuous processes of work and involvement. Self-identifying as being part of a certain kind of south or periphery can be an important point of view for policy setting. Assuming this perspective, a discussion is made on what means to be from the southern peripheries in contemporary societies. From this debate and the experience of Stronger Peripheries activities, some specificities of these territories are highlighted. General guidelines for territorial-based policy making in the cultural field, at local/regional/national scale are suggested. Recommendations concerning EU support to participatory cultural projects are proposed.

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Peripheries,Cultural policies,Territorial policies,Culture,South