Cultural policy refers to the range of cultural practices, products and forms of circulation and consumption that are organised and subject to domains of policy. Cultural policy studies examine how governments deal with cultural issues in terms of strategies of facilitation, regulation and shaping. (Craik 1995: 202)
There are two main definitions of the scope of cultural policy:
DEFINITION 1:
Cultural Policy Refers to the Regulation of the Marketplace of Ideas and Creative Practice
This definition posits that cultural and creative activities occur in the community as part of everyday life. These practices, products and patterns of consumption become then object of government policy with the objective of shaping production and consumption, often in relation to the development of national culture or export potential.
Cultural regulation may be intended or unintended.
Forms of support may be direct or indirect.
Patrons may be individuals (e.g. private philanthropists or aristocrats) or group (e.g. church, state, monarch or corporate sector).
DEFINITION 2:
Cultural Policy Refers to Policies that Manage the Production, Distribution and Consumption/Use of Cultural Resources
This is a more hands-on definition that sees government as playing a lead role in directly managing the field of cultural production and creative activity. This may be through ownership of cultural bodies, direct employment of cultural practitioners, commissioning works and acting of impresario for touring.
Culture refers to artistic and intellectual forms of life.
Cultural policies aim to change the relationships between forms of cultural expression and ways of life.
Policies work through governmental agencies that set the framework for the manifestation of cultural resources.