Biography

Dr Beatriz Garcia has been at the forefront of debates about culture-led urban regeneration since 1999. Her pioneering work on the cultural impact and legacy of mega-events has informed city strategists around the world, from Sydney to Liverpool and from Taipei to London. Dr Garcia grew up and was educated in Barcelona, specialising in international communication policy, city marketing, major events and the then emerging field of cultural policy research. During her studies, she lived in France, Australia, the USA, and the UK, where she now resides.

Projects

  • I have led major studies in culture-led regeneration since 1999, first working on the Sydney 2000 Olympic cultural programme; then studying the legacy of the Glasgow 1990 European City of Culture (1990-2004); directing the Impacts 08 research framework on the multiple impacts of Liverpool as 2008 European Capital of Culture (ECoC, 2005-2018); reviewing the first three decades of ECoC legacies throughout Europe (1985-2015); or assisting ECoC bidding cities linking up their urban cultural strategies to the UN global goals (2023-2025).
  • I have pioneered research on the Cultural Olympiad, collating data and comparing impacts and legacies in all editions of the Olympic Games between Barcelona 1992 and Paris 2024 to date. My work informed the culture bid for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games and resulted in the first full evaluation of a national Cultural Olympiad for London. In 2024, I have just published the second major evaluation of a Cultural Olympiad, for Paris 2024, and I am advising the International Olympic Committee, Milano-Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 on best ways forward to define, document and capture the value of upcoming Cultural Olympiads.
  • Other projects I have directed assess the vision, strategic frameworks, legacy plans and capacity to capture impacts for a wide range of major events, from World Expos to Art Biennales, International Art Festivals, national cities of culture (such as the UK City of Culture) and neighbourhood or borough-based cultural events.

Research funding

  • I have conducted primary research across the EU European Capital of Culture programme and at every Olympic Games – Winter and Summer – since 2000, funded by such organizations as the British Council, British Academy, the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, the UK Social and Economic Research Council, the Universities China Committee in London, the London and Paris Organising Committees for the Olympic & Paralympic Games, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to name just a few.

Roles

  • Between 2006 and 2024, I have been based at the University of Liverpool as Research Director, leading major programmes such as Impacts 08 and co-founding the Institute of Cultural Capital. Since 2024, I am Hon. Senior Research Fellow in International Cultural Policy and Mega Events.
  • From 2020, I have been Associate Director of the Centre for Cultural Value.
  • Since 2015, I am a member of the IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission
  • Between 2017 and 2022, I joined the European Capital of Culture Selection panel, appointed by the European Commission.

Speaking

  • I am a highly sought after public speaker and have given more than 200 invited keynotes and plenaries in over 37 countries.
  • I am committed to advancing academically-sound and policy-relevant methodologies to capture the intrinsic value of cultural interventions as well as their role as catalysts for social, political and economic change.

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