As part of the CULTMED project, CULTURELINK – Centre for Research in Cultural Policy, Development and Cooperation, invites you to the seventh lecture in the Culturelink Guest Lecture Series. The lecture will take place on Thursday, 26 February 2026, at 16h, in the library of the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO). Dr Eleonora Redaelli from the University of Oregon will give a lecture entitled “Invisible Cultural Policy in America.”
This presentation examines the often-overlooked role of the U.S. government in shaping cultural life. Drawing from her recently published book Invisible Cultural Policy in America, Dr Redaelli explores how public administration fosters a pluralistic cultural landscape through multilevel governance and diverse democratic values. Focusing on the arts, humanities, and historic preservation, the talk traces key legislation that legitimised federal involvement and the evolution of cultural federalism across national and state agencies. To illustrate this process, the presentation provides national examples of programming as well as cases from Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland, and New Mexico. It also highlights intellectual debates that influenced shifting interpretations of cultural domains. Amid this fragmented governance, the concept of a pluralistic public culture emerges as a unifying principle aimed at strengthening democracy.
The lecture will be held in English. You can sign up to attend the lecture by February 25 at kultura@irmo.hr.
