Dr Franco Bianchini is Reader in Cultural Planning and Policy, Director of the Cultural Planning Research Unit, and Programme Leader for the MA in European Cultural Planning at De Montfort University, Leicester. His books include Planning for the Intercultural City (with Jude Bloomfield, Comedia, 2004), Culture and Neighbourhoods: a Comparative Report (with L.Ghilardi, Santacatterina, Strasbourg, 1997), The creative city (with C. Landry, 1995), Cultural Policy and Urban Regeneration: the West European Experience (with M Parkinson, 1993) and City Centres, City Cultures (with M Fisher et al., 1988).
He has acted as advisor and researcher on cultural planning strategies and projects in various European countries, on behalf of organisations including Arts Council England, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Task force on Culture and Development.
He has lectured on urban and regional cultural policy and planning issues - including on questions of economic and social impact assessment - in countries including Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, Poland, Spain, Greece and Italy. He was chosen by the European Parliament to serve on the international panel of experts responsible for recommending the city to be selected as European Capital of Culture for 2005.
His recent research interests encompass such topics as the relationship between participation in cultural activities and social inclusion/civic participation (see his chapter - with J Bloomfield - in N Stevenson (ed.) Culture and Citizenship (2001), the role of intercultural practices within innovative urban strategies, the emergence of new professional specializations in area-based cultural policies, and alternative approaches to place marketing.