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Strategies for creative industries: an international review

A comparative study of public policies which support creative enterprise by developing creative spaces. Mechanisms employed, shifting definitions of creative industries and interpretation of cultural resources are discussed in the context of the ‘creative city’. The London Development Agency (LDA), city of Toronto and Province of Ontario commissioned this research and it was undertaken jointly by Cities Institute and University of Toronto between 2004- 2006.

This paper traces the increasing popularity of place-based creative cluster policies, showing how spatial and economic development planning support them. A web-based database of policy was developed, serving as a research resource. Also used were interviews/communication with practitioners, policy-makers, field visits, and in-depth case studies of six cities in Europe and North America, three of which are drawn on in this paper (Barcelona, Berlin and London) were also used.

There is intra-city spatial concentration of creative industries and they are underpinned by significant public intervention. There is international focus on the creative economy as a growth sector and the paper examines the highly politicized but shifting definitions between cultural and creative industries and the tendency to associate them with a generic new knowledge economy.

Policy emulation has been widespread resulting in confusion over wider social and cultural objectives. Advocacy of creative city policies was at its height when creative industry employment growth began to falter in leading creative cities, suggesting that the role of the creative industries in the knowledge economy of metropolitan centres requires more nuanced understanding.

This paper has been cited in academic and policy literature, with reference to critiques of ill-conceived policy transfer and the need to develop locally specific strategies. There are currently 38 Google Scholar Academic Citations from authors debating creative industry strategies in the US, Europe, China and Australia. Policy Citations so far include: Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council (2012) : The Work Foundation (2010); CREATIVE METROPOLES European Regional Development Fund /INTERREG IVC programme (2010-); Scottish Creative Industries Partnership (2010).