This collection is an essential guide to, and critique of, visual arts regeneration strategies mobilized by local and national governments attempting to brand their cities in contemporary regional and global markets for lucrative industries, tourism and heritage recognition. Looking at cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, Da Zha Lan in China, Bogata in Colombia and Rio de Janiero in Brazil and case studies in the former USSR, it offers critical analyses of the history of regeneration policies and practices with a unique focus on the use of architecture, art and visual culture as vehicles for the re-design and re-presentation of cities.

Themes treated include sustainability and energy production for cities, sexuality and architecture, surveillance and power on the streets, utopian imaginings of alternative societies and consultation for social change in building.