Dr Franco Bianchini is Professor of Cultural Policy and Planning, at Leeds Metropolitan University. His publications include Cultural Policy and Urban Regeneration: The West European Experience, and The Creative City. He was appointed by the President of the European Parliament to the selection panel responsible for designating Cork as the European Capital of Culture for 2005. Since 2003 Franco has collaborated with the Liverpool Culture Company in developing ‘Cities on the Edge’.

Franco's foreword appears in ReBerth.