The document summarizes John Holden's article on how we value arts and culture. It discusses three main ways culture is valued: intrinsically for its own sake, instrumentally for what it allows us to achieve, and institutionally for the role of cultural organizations in society. There has been a shift where culture is now seen as an essential part of the economy and identity rather than just something quaint. This is because people are valuing experiences over goods, having more exposure to other cultures, and defining themselves more through cultural consumption than jobs or geography. How we describe and measure cultural value depends on personal motivations.

1. minivation
Presents their notes on:
John Holden (2009).
How We Value Arts and culture.
Asia Pacific Journal of Arts & Cultural Management
Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 447 – 456.

4. Two meanings = oppositional.
High culture vs popular culture.
This led to a lot of confusion.

6. Today though…

7. Consequences of this…

8. The internet is just one factor
that enables this to happen.

9. Does this shift matter?
Yes, because now culture is no longer
just a small part of the economy
and something quaint for society.

10. Reason 1: Value…
“It seems that people are valuing experiences,
and the things that give their lives meaning.
They are letting go of the consumption
of goods sooner, than letting go of their
consumption and production of culture.”
p.451

11. Reason 2: Foreign relations…
“We are all having much more
interaction with and exposure
to other people and other nations.
We encounter difference at every turn,
what happens on the streets of NY
one minute can lead to riots
in Islamabad the next.
In these circumstances we understand
and misunderstand each other as well,
through the medium of culture.”
p.451

12. Reason 3: Identity…
“…where we define ourselves
not so much by our jobs
- because those come and go -
and not so much by our geography
- because we move around -
but by our cultural consumption and production.
I am who I am, and you are who you are,
because of what we watch, read, listen to, write
and play.”
p.451

13. All this serves to shift the need for culture
CC 2011 minivation
minivation, Unit 27 City Business Centre, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7JF
from being a „nice‟ thing to behold,
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective owners. The Publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
to an essential element of our continuing
DISCLAIMER: Whilst the information herein is supplied in good faith, no responsibility is taken by either the publisher or the author
for any damage, injury or loss, however caused, which may arise from the use of the information provided.
education.
www.minivation.org
This work is published for educational purposes by minivation and is licenced under the
Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0
UK: England & Wales License.
To view a copy of this licence, visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
or send a letter to:
Creative Commons,
171 Second Street,
Even our ability to network
Suite 300,
San Francisco,
California 94105,
USA
and/or access groups.
Graphics referenced on page all others CC 9ines.

14. In this new paradigm, none of these
are more important than any other.

15. Policy
now more
important.
Much broader issues
concerned with culture.
Culture concerned with
much broader issues.

16. Behold, the three (contemporary)
values of culture…
Intrinsic
p.454

17. Intrinsic:
Abstract notions = fun / beauty / sublime.
Difficult (for policy) to measure and describe.
“Intrinsic means integral to,
or an essential part of.”
p.452

18. Instrumental:
Accomplishment of (external)
aims through the culture.
p.452

19. Institutional:
The way the cultural suppliers act
in our society.

20. Intrinsic

21. Conclusion
“ What you value, and the language and metrics you
use to describe that value, depends on who you are.”
Motivation = key.
p.455

22. CC minivation
minivation, Unit 27 City Business Centre, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7JF
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks.
All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective owners. The Publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned.
DISCLAIMER: Whilst the information herein is supplied in good faith, no responsibility is taken by either the publisher or the author
for any damage, injury or loss, however caused, in any form, which may arise from the use of the information provided.
www.minivation.org
This work is published for educational purposes by minivation (2012) and is licenced under the
Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0
UK: England & Wales License.
To view a copy of this licence, visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
or send a letter to:
Creative Commons,
171 Second Street,
Suite 300,
San Francisco,
California 94105,
USA