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Abstract As leisure innovation and new productive forces emerge as key drivers of urban cultural development, the reconstruction of leisure-oriented cultural spaces through artistic intervention has become a pressing issue of both theoretical and practical significance for small and medium-sized cities. This study focuses on the transformation mechanisms of leisure cultural spaces in such cities under the empowerment of art. It aims at transcending the traditional space–function logic by shifting toward a scene–meaning dimension, thus exploring how art can revitalize spatial cultural vitality and foster collective identity in the urban context.
The research begins by distinguishing between the concepts of space and scene, arguing that innovation in leisure-oriented cultural space hinges on the transformation from a functional physical entity to a meaningful and emotionally resonant scene imbued with cultural significance. These spaces are understood not merely as geographic locales but as hybrid fields intertwining sensory perception, cultural symbolism, and social action. The theoretical framework integrates Heidegger’s notion of “Poetic Dwelling”, Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, and Terry Clark’s scene theory to construct a three-dimensional analytical model comprising authenticity, theatricality, and legitimacy. Furthermore, the study reveals a conceptual resonance between this triadic model and Bernard Basanquet’s aesthetic principles—namely the metaphysical, aesthetic, and moral dimension—suggesting a deep-seated coupling between artistic practices and the cultural transformation of space.
Within this framework, art is positioned as a generative force in cultural practice, capable of activating local cultural resources, reconfiguring narrative aesthetics, and engaging the public in participatory co-creation. These mechanisms collectively enable the transition of leisure spaces from sites of functional use to culturally meaningful scenes.
The empirical analysis features two representative cases: the Münster Sculpture Project in Germany and the Wuzhen Theatre Festival in China. Through the lens of the authenticity–theatricality–legitimacy model, the study conducts a comparative analysis of how art empowers leisure cultural spaces in different cultural and institutional settings. The Münster case emphasizes avant-garde public art’s integration into everyday urban space, stimulating local memory and cultural identity while fostering a deep convergence between art and daily life. The Wuzhen case highlights the immersive coupling of contemporary performing arts with traditional Jiangnan water-town environments, showcasing how cultural space can be regenerated through collaborative participation of social capital, local aesthetics, and place-based narratives.
Building upon a range of practices in small and medium-sized cities, the study proposes three locally adaptive innovation pathways. First, it advocates revitalizing spatial authenticity through the full-spectrum activation of local cultural resources, addressing the homogenization and formulaic reproduction of urban leisure spaces. Second, it introduces the aesthetic logic of Eastern narrative aesthetics as an alternative to Western-dominated spatial and aesthetic paradigms, emphasizing the construction of spiritually resonant cultural scenes. Third, it calls for the establishment of co-governance and co-sharing mechanisms to strengthen civic legitimacy and ensure the sustained vitality of leisure cultural spaces.
The study offers three key innovations. First, it introduces a conceptual shift from “space” to “scene” as a new lens for understanding leisure cultural spaces in small and medium-sized cities. Second, it develops a structured empowerment model based on authenticity, theatricality, and legitimacy, thereby elucidating the internal logic and operational mechanisms of artistic spatial intervention. Third, it engages with the contemporary discourse on Chinese cultural subjectivity, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of local cultural logics and Eastern aesthetic traditions in the reconstruction of cultural spaces.
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Published: 02 August 2025
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