Since the beginning of the 2010s, the notion of cultural fields and sectors as ecosystems has been increasingly gaining popularity – especially among cultural policy and creative industries concept. While the theoretical framework of cultural ecosystem itself often remains black boxed, its use increasingly proclaims an integrative perspective for all kinds of cultural practcies in policy and an increased consideration of social and cultural values in cultural production.

Basing on this, the paper discusses some questions in terms of possible concequences of ecosystem related thinking in cultural policy and what this could mean for DIY based cultures. Might an ecological approach to culture mean a democratization in terms of funding and 'offical' appreciation of alternative cultural practices? In which way ecosystem related concepts might be seen as opportunity or risk for institutionalization of underground practices at the same time? Or refers this trend just to another story of exploiting symbolic values and memories of scenes and underground cultures in urban cultural policy?