Culture, Growth and Green:

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.