Culture, Growth and Green:

Negotiating Flagship Projects at the Periphery

Abstract

This study explores the socio-spatial dynamics surrounding the creation and
perception of Sara kulturhus, a flagship cultural centre in Skellefteå, Sweden. While
initially being framed within a discourse of urban attractivity, the project later
became entangled with narratives of green transition following the establishment of
the Northvolt battery factory, which came to influence meaning-making. Drawing
on interviews with local actors within the local cultural scene and an analysis of
municipal documents, this study describes this process. The study demonstrates
how the cultural centre became a site of negotiation between commercial and
independent cultural values – celebrated as a symbol of progress yet criticised
for centralising cultural resources and marginalising grassroots initiatives –
while also revealing strategic rebranding efforts aimed at aligning with green
transition objectives. Additionally, it reveals gendered concerns surrounding rapid
industrialisation and the perceived role of culture in mitigating emerging social
tensions. Ultimately, the study illustrates how flagship projects in peripheral regions
are shaped by evolving discourses, local identity, and broader political-economic
transformations; particularly how a discourse on ‘green transition’ stretched far
beyond the industrial investments.