Considering the cultural economic perspectives, this paper studies both the cultural and social dimensions of cultural goods that function as commons–orientated practices.
When we claim to be using a cultural economics perspective, what we are actually embracing is a specific approach within the field of cultural economics known as the value-based approach. Whilst the literature on the cultural commons primarily focuses on the relationships between actors, resources and governance, this approach helps us to deepen the analysis of practices that make up the cultural domain, and their social and cultural qualities. We argue that cultural values and social values within the cultural commons practices are intertwined yet distinct concepts, with each contributing towards the overall ethos and functioning of these shared resources. They differ with respect to their purposes and outcomes. When curators, artists, museum professionals, or other cultural professionals, and scientists, policy makers, and members of local communities collaborate, they thus co-create or co-curate new art works, exhibitions or experiment with new working methods, and make sense of what the art works signify, all of which involve cultural values. They also socialise with people that they otherwise would not meet. By analyzing the differences, we contribute to a better understanding of the ‘culturalness’ of cultural commons and what exactly makes them different from other types of commons, especially in respect to commons governance structures.
Next to this, based on systemic literature review, this paper puts forward a taxonomy of cultural commons–orientated practices, with respect to both the nature of the cultural resources and the dynamics between the cultural and social values that are expressed via the functioning of the cultural goods. In so doing, the paper also identifies gaps in extant research and opens up avenues for further inquiry into these aforementioned relationships.
