THE CASE OF LOUVRE-LENS: REGIONAL REGENERATION THROUGH CULTURAL INNOVATION

The paper presents a case study of a project of multi-stakeholder partnership for urban regeneration and regional tourism enhancement through culture that has been enacted in the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais in France. The e major elements of this initiative included re-localization of Louvre museum in the city of Lens, and inscription of the former mining area in the UNESCO WHS list. The relocation of the Louvre museum contains some elements of rejuvenation models through acclaimed cultural establishments and local partnerships implemented in other cities, such as Bilbao or Liverpool. However, it takes into account the issues of balanced regional development through culture that are similar to the Ruhr region revitalization project. The case study highlights a more participative and collaborative approach to different types of stakeholders in the region, as well as between potential competitors as the city of Lille (the 2004 capital of culture), and the positive results that such an approach could generate in terms of balanced regional enhancement through culture.