Abstract
This dissertation analyses the role of early 21st-century cultural agents and initiatives in the construction of a new cultural discourse for the city of Cusco, a city that historically has had a crucial role for identity-building narratives in Peru and the Andean region. While acknowledging the significance that 20th-century scholars had on articulating and defining the concept of cusqueñismo, an Inca- centered cultural imaginary that prompted Peruvians to acknowledge the value of their Indigenous and Andean heritage, my project critically examines the thoughts behind cusqueñismo and thereby argues for less hierarchical and more inclusive approaches to the theoretical understanding of the definition of culture in contemporary Cusco. After exploring the history of the city of Cusco in connection with contemporary cultural aspects that are considered by contemporary cultural agents and public officers, we interview Cusco government officials and cultural agents to discuss the use and situation of culture in the city, placing an emphasis on Quechua language and Indigenous-focused initiatives. We compare Cusco’s cultural context with other influential frameworks and practices: Brazil’s Ponto de Cultura initiatives, and US/UK theoretical approaches on cultural industries and the creative economy. We conclude by offering recommendations for best practices on promoting a more dynamic cultural ecosystem that ensures the diversity of participants and can forge a more democratic production and consumption of culture.