ABSTRACT
The Observatoire des Politiques Culturelles of Grenoble has become an important reference point for the creation of many research and information centers in cultural policy, particularly in Europe and North America. The proposal for an Observatoire des Politiques Culturelles Territoriales was an admission on the part of the administration of the ministry that it was no longer able to be aware of all of the local activity in the field. It is likely that the international reputation of the Observatoire des Politiques Culturelles is greater than it merits. Much of that reputation derives from the choice of the word observatoire as the name of the organization. Most cultural policy researchers do not regard the observatory as an important contributor to research in the field. What they do acknowledge, though, is a not inconsiderable contribution in the areas of service, advice, training, and consulting.
