Of special interest is the article by Richard on a new approach to cultural exception beyond its political and market-oriented instrumentalisation. Another very interesting reading provides the contribution by Chaudoir and Maillard who present the results of a study which evaluated the role of culture in French urban contracts ("contrats de ville"), i.e. contracts among various public stakeholders at local level.

The dossier is dedicated to cultural decentralisation issues in France.

Abstracts are accessible online on the website of the Observatoire at this external link.