Culture as Public Infrastructure

Examine culture as a form of public infrastructure rather than a luxury. How do labor disputes, museum programming, heritage exhibitions, arts leadership, and state support influence who gets access to culture and who gets to define it? Use examples from museums, theaters, festivals, and national landmarks to compare two competing goals: preserving tradition and expanding participation. Then suggest ways cultural policy can support artists and institutions while also improving access, fairness, and long-term public value.