This compelling book offers a fresh and novel approach to study cultural and artistic expression from the perspective of 'the commons'. It demonstrates how identifying cultures as shared resources is useful in eliciting the main factors and social dilemmas affecting the production and evolution of cultural expression. Adopting the unifying perspective of 'the cultural commons', the chapters provide in-depth analysis of a wide range of cultural resources, including traditional cultural expression, heritage, gastronomy and cultural content in virtual worlds. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective and gathering contributions from economic, sociological and legal fields, this timely book proposes a new and complementary research agenda. Scholars and postgraduate students of cultural economics, cultural studies, and sociology of culture will find this authoritative and essential book invaluable. Contributors: C. Barrere, E. Bertacchini C. Bocchino, Q. Bonnard, P. Borrione, G. Bravo, A. Buzio, A. Carbone, V. Chossat, P. Fiorentino, M. Friel, X. Greffe, C. Hess, M. Marrelli, M. Murphree, A. Re, W. Santagata, A.J. Scott, M. Trimarchi, Y. Zhang