Sheet No. 01
What is cultural planning?
By Dr. Reza Moafi, Founder and President ·
In short
Cultural planning is the way a city or a community decides, together, how culture will be part of everyday life: where it happens, who it is for and how it is supported.
A simple definition
When I talk about "planning", people usually think of roads, housing or parks. Cultural planning brings the same care to culture. It starts with a simple question: what culture already exists here, and what do residents need to live it fully? I mean culture in the broad sense: the arts and libraries, of course, but also festivals, community kitchens, places of worship, the languages spoken at home and the memories of a neighbourhood.
It usually follows four steps: mapping what exists (places, groups, skills, traditions), listening to residents, especially those we hear less often, choosing priorities together, and following up to see what has changed.
A Montréal example
Montréal has a network of maisons de la culture spread across its boroughs: free or low-cost venues where residents can see a show, visit an exhibition or join a workshop close to home. Behind this network is a planning choice: culture should not be reserved for downtown. Many boroughs also adopt their own cultural or social development plans, so that decisions reflect the people who actually live there, including newcomers from all over the world.
Key points
- Culture is a shared resource, like a park: it needs to be planned for.
- Good cultural planning starts with listening, not with a list of projects.
- It pays attention to who is missing: people who never come to events are part of the picture.
- It is not only the city’s job: community groups, artists, educational institutions and residents all take part.
A common misconception
"Cultural planning means organising more events." Not quite. Sometimes the best answer is a room that stays open in the evening, a sign in several languages or a safe walk to the library. Planning is about the conditions for culture, not only the activities.
Why it matters for intercultural life
In a neighbourhood where dozens of cultures live side by side, planning helps decide whether they simply coexist or truly meet. I have seen it many times: when residents of different backgrounds help shape cultural life, they are no longer just an audience, they become co-authors of their city.