It is easy to put into Macedonian context the argument put forward by Franco
Bianchini who says that: “Planners and policy makers have regarded culture simply
as a resource to be exploited, rather than a critical and creative force that questions
ways of thinking and working and [which] could inspire a fresh approach to urban
planning and policy” (Bianchini cited in The European Task Force on Culture and
Development, 1997: 94). Even more easy is to agree with the assertion further in the
text that: “A culture of creativity needs to be included into policy-making at a city
level which facilitates cooperation between artists and architects planners and the
public, for without a cultural dimension can a city be revitalized?” (ibid).
Accordingly, we would like to argue in this paper that for the revitalization of a city
like Skopje a careful cultural planning approach is necessary, meaning that when
urban development strategies are being formulated, a cultural perspective would be at
the heart of the policy, rather than being only a peripheral consideration.
In order to better understand the complexity of the situation (and the tenacity of it),
regarding the question of the regeneration of Skopje, we firstly have to outline the
main characteristics of a current situation in a cultural field in Skopje (and often in
Macedonia), as well as outline the problem areas, challenges, the objectives and the
visions for the cultural future of Skopje.