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Abstract

Citizens in China are exploring their own identities through various online practices. Different from the increased demand for social and economic rights, the opportunities to participate in social affairs and construct distinct cultural identities are the main concerns of cultural citizenship. This article explores crowdfunding as a practice of cultural citizenship by investigating the crowdfunding activities initiated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China. Through investigating the cultural rights that are performed and their impacts on identity formation of citizens, this article reveals the emerging mode of public engagement and participatory culture. During the process of crowdfunding, a new environmental and youth identity is shaped, and a connection between online and offline worlds is forged. Furthermore, non-profit crowdfunding has facilitated popular civic participation in both virtual and physical spaces under the censorship of the Chinese government. In this process, creativity is performed by networked individuals and groups when practicing cultural citizenship.

Keywords

Cultural citizenship identity civic culture NGO China

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Crowdfunding as a Practice of Cultural Citizenship in China: A Case Study of Four NGOs

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