Paper

Sculpture Parks as Cultural Tourism Catalysts  

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Abstract

Sculpture parks (SPs) are blends of landscape with art and are considered showcases presenting sculpture in a natural setting that dramatizes and harmonizes the exhibited artworks. They invite visitors to embark on a journey of discovery, exploring the intersection of art and landscape in new and unexpected ways.

Their vision is not only about exhibiting art, it is about creating learning, discovery, and attraction experiences for visitors that celebrate the tapestry of nature, community, and culture. By this, SPs play an important role in enhancing cultural tourism. 

This study explores how SPs ameliorate visitor experience while contributing to their surroundings' cultural, economic, and ecological fabric. It intends to: 

• Explore case studies demonstrating successful SPs as spaces where art, nature, and people converge in urban and rural settings, and how they play a significant role in inviting and attracting cultural tourists with their unique spatial organization that merges art, nature, and people. 
  Finally, explore how SPS impacts the economy of local communities positively by providing job opportunities and supporting businesses in the community.
  
  
• To achieve the listed objectives, this paper uses a case study methodology. We use a comparative analysis approach of four successfully designed SPs: the Olympic SP in Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Storm King SP in the United States; Yorkshire SP in the United Kingdom; and Kistefos SP in Norway. Mixed-methods approach, including qualitative assessments of visitors' experiences, economic analysis of tourism impacts, and evaluation of the landscape architecture design strategies used in these selected SPs.

The results show how SPs perform as dynamic green open spaces that enhance community engagement and cultural identity. Key points include:

• The success of SPs in acting as a connector between urban and rural landscapes and facilitating access to art and nature is their role in enhancing cultural tourism bringing tourists and encouraging them to engage with both art and nature
  
  
• The inclusion and usage of sustainable design strategies that reinforce ecological balance while attracting tourists.

In conclusion, this research contributes to the existing knowledge of SPs by revealing how they can be designed to boost both cultural tourism and environmental sustainability. Also, by connecting them with greenway planning, the paper demonstrates their potential to enrich the local communities' economic and cultural tourism.

Keywords: Sculpture Parks, Cultural tourism, Visitation, Visitors experience, Sculpture, Landscape architecture

How to Cite:

Benkaid Kasbah, S., Eplényi, A. & Yousef, R., (2025) “Sculpture Parks as Cultural Tourism Catalysts   ”, Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning 8(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/fabos.2450