1. CREATIVE CITIES
a critical overview of literature and definitions
bertram m. niessen
http://b3rtramni3ss3n.wordpress.com
bertrammarianiessen (at) gmail.com
twitter: @bertramniessen
5. Creative Cities_ introduction_ a matter of definitions
Creative City
A broad concept that connects Creativity with the City
The City seen as a milieu where creativity can take place
It underlines the importance of immaterial factors (thought, urban
atmosphere, talent, vibrant street-life, etc)
Book: Landry and Bianchini “The Creative City ” (1994)
10. Creative Cities_ introduction_ a matter of definitions
Where the idea comes from?
- Shift from Urban Managerialism to Urban Entrepreneurialism (David
Harvey, 1989)
→ the idea of a zero sum competition among cities
- The need to find a new production paradigm for western cities after the
de-industrialisation crisis of the '80s
- The quest for a new immaterial economy based on intangible labour and
cognitive assets (Creative Industries)
13. Creative Cities_ introduction_ a matter of definitions
As a consequence
- The emergence of City Branding and City Marketing
- Wider processes of urban renewal
- The rising importance of urban landmarks
16. Creative Cities_ introduction_ a matter of definitions
preliminary question
what does it mean “creative”?
→ more than 60 different definitions in psychology (Taylor, 1988)
17. Creative Cities_ introduction_ a matter of definitions
preliminary question
what does it mean “creative”?
→ more than 60 different definitions in psychology (Taylor, 1988)
2 main existing ways of conceptualisation for the relationship between
urban spaces and creativity
1) studies on the city as a base for creative industries: Florida (2002), Peck
(2005), Scott (2000, 2006), Pratt (2000), Molotch (2005);
2) the city as a place that enhance individual and collective creativity:
Landry (2000), Chatterton (2000), Hall (2000), De Certau (1990)
22. Creative Cities_ introduction _ Creative Class (2002) _ Focus
Main analysis object: “the Creative Class”
Core force for economic development of contemporary cities
40 million workers (30 % US workforce)
- Super-Creative Core (12% of US Professionals): science, education, computer
programming, research, engineering.
- Creative Professionals (cognitive workers): healthcare, business and finance, legal
sector, education.
- Neo-Bohemians
23. Città Creative _ Classe Creativa _ Florida (2002) _ Focus
Main object of the analysis : “the Creative Class”, characterised by
- low social barriers;
- social and cultural heterogeneity (in terms of jobs, origins, lifestyle, aspectations,
etc)
- always in search of other creatives;
- always in search of a lively cultural and artistic environment;
- in search of amenities (café, art galleries, cultural spaces, etc).
25. Creative Cities_ introduction _ Creative Class (2002) _ 3Ts Index
T1: Technology
- indicators of high-tech industry
- Indicators from the patent databases
T2: Talent
- measures of human capital based on educational attainment
- indexes from statistic occupational data files
T3: Tolerance
- specific integration indicators
- foreign-born people indicators
- artistic communities indicators
- gay and lesbian population indicators
27. Creative Cities _ Creative Class _ Florida (2002) _ Critics
1) Nature of the casual mechanism
- > “Cargo Cults” of Creativity
2) Reflexivity of the 3T Index
- > Autopoiesis of urban competition
3) Mono-dimensionality of analysis
- > Politics oriented mainly towards secondary measures
4) Inadequate consideration for socio-economical inequalities, especially at the
urban level
- > Occupational and spatial segregation
5) Excess of trust in the power of short-term planning
- > Lack of consideration for long term cultural and urban policies
6) Ambiguous definition of “creative class”
- > “It's better to invite everybody to the party”
