The Creative City / Town What is a Creative City
Planning the perfect city Those who toiled knew nothing of those who planned Metropolis, Fritz Lang 1927 Planning as a linear- or even cyclic process in which the primary aspect is the built environment with life spans of 50-100 years is highly questionable in an age and if so - planning for change would seem to be the only viable path. The rational environment (of the architect/planner) and the irrational environment (of the artist) must co-exist in our cities as interrelated.
Creative city - quotes The technical and economic studies that have engrossed city planners to the exclusion of every other element in life, must in the coming era take second place to the primary studies of the needs of persons and groups. Subordinate questions the spatial separation of industry and domestic life, the number of houses per acre cannot be settled intelligently until more fundemental problems are answered. What sort of personality do we seek to foster and nurture? What kind of common life? What is the order of preference in our life needs.
Planning and Culture More and more towns, cities and regions therefore tend to look to culture and reaffirm their identity/ies, attract and retain their chare of the cultural industries (and tourists), join the competitive city race and contribute to the design and adaptation of the public realm and the consumption in urban society. This the challenge for cultural planning Cultural Planning an Urban Rennaissance, Graeme Evans
Creative city & identity We are constantly in search for our identity/ies : we have multiple references and we are constantly being challenged, sold, tempted and forced into rethinking and re-enforcing our conceptions. The city has to mirror these multiple scenarios in its physical structure its symbols/messages and its activties but it also has to present a coherent sense of itself. There are many pathways though the city - many spaces and buildings they are the same for everyone but we all read them and decode them differently. We also have different paths in the city
Creative city - identity Why do we (still) portray the city as a one or two or three- dimensional artifact. Is this to create a false sense of order- community In a creative city we need to have individual (creative) maps of the city to allow us to explore and know the city in different ways.
Qualities of The Creative City Physical Qualities Cultural Qualities Communication Qualities Human Qualities Management Qualties
Physical Qualities The city has a strong overall sense of identity The city has a well defined physical boundaries and sense of cohesion The city has a clear sense of cultural heritage The city gas good use of public space and activity in the public space The city hange and development in the urban fabric The city qualityarchitects / ure in major projects
Cultural Qualities High level of cultural facility provision (theatres, concert halls, art museums) Significant cultural / arts events (festivals, biennale) Significant production of art and culture and not just consumption / presentation Significant level creative discourse and interaction (workshops, seminars, debates, summer schools) High level of engagement of local communities in arts/culture Artists are valued and given key roles
Communication Qualities Developed fora for debate, discussion and exchanges of ideas and solution of conflict planning fora, cultural for a perhaps, residents fora specific issues fora but perhaps a creative city for a to encourage lateral thinking/ networking Community related media Daily newspapers - local radio/tv. Web sites which Creative processes to formulate ideas, test and monitor ideas and programmes
Human Qualities A balanced demographic situation with a significant flow An open community which respects its cultural heritage but also welcomes change A community which is proud of its town/region An active and engaged community A community which has a high level of interest for arts/culture A community with room for ethnic and cultural diverse minorities A community with a high level of tolerance
Management Qualities A city which plans and manages from a holistic ethos A city which ensures that it is inclusive in its planning methodlogy A city which can adjust and adapt to new situations and requirements A city which engages the community and guides and supports rather than provides A city which defines human activity, human relations and human development as the starting point A city which is geared to change and does not plan in finite formats
Diversity and contrasts A healthy balance between planned and unplanned in the city in architecture local environment and culture A balance between the known and the unknown A strongly differentiated town/city with contrasts in local environment / community at all levels A city which caters for minority tastes and extremes to create a balance rather that cater for consensus
The Creative City some aspects
Density and Dynamics Synergy in the creative city is crucial on many levels accessibility / physical linkage density / critical mass easiness of access / less formal / fewer rules creating the need to interact / inter-dependence The sense of being part of a dynamic process identification with change Externalising and mirroring change and keeping this going!!!
The Creative Timeline A city and community which expresses the sense of now both locally and globally and is in a state of creativity A city which understands its past but which does not live in the past. A city which is forward looking and which is sees itself as interlinked with trends and challenges of the future A dynamic city which is in the process of change / adaptation a city which dares A city which can take on board new initiatives, and ideas A city which evolves dynamically
Ethos and Image A city / town which has a strong and positive reputation A city whose which promotes multiple images and identification A city where images(s) responds clearly to the identity(ies) of the place A city whose images/identity supports forward thinking and renewal and does not restrict A city where strong human values are at the core of everything cities will become value/ ethical cities
Urban Space The idea of the public realm is bound up with the ideas of discovery, of expanding ones horizons, of the unknown, of expression and of adventure The challenge for the creative city is to provide flexible setting sof interaction, which incorporate the virtues of the physical and static with the possibilities to operate in a cyber world. Cyber Cafés are merely a start Public space public sphere - is a multifaceted concept at the heart of the innovative environment Public space as a vibrant interface between life styles, between social groups, between local and global, between the physical and the metaphysical, between the individual and the mass is the essence of any city
Cultural Facilities Cultural facilities and activities are significant factors in generating inspiration, self confidence, debate of ideas exchange as well as the creation of a city s image Creative spaces at affordable prices artists of the city must be visible, integrated and have good working7 production conditions Artists as regenerators. 40 years of waves of artists in cheap / marginal areas to kick start potential development by attracting media / people / investment
Cultural action Artists can and do de-construct, disturb and de-stabilise preconceptions of our way of life of our society - and to contain confrontation and enthuse creative thinking Artists can and do explore and reflect themes and cultures Artists can and do open up new /old spaces Artists can and do manifest and celebrate and act as mobilisers of creativity
Innovation and Cultural Industries A city which values innovation A city which offers support for innovators and creators (space, facilities support etc) A city which welcomes young and new ideas and enterpreneurs A city which creates links between different environments A city which platforms and supports cultural industries
Organisational creativity Urban creativity is difficult to achieve since it means bringing together of a varied mix of actors, agents and interest groups, with varying backgrounds, aspirations, potential and cultures The creative city has aspects which distinguish itself from personal or even organisational creativity, with a far greater emphasis on relationships, joint visioning processes and networking dynamics
Management practice Emphasis on core lateral thinking, synergy and policy development rather than on management and delivery Policy creation and development should engage the community and involve specialists and external / international observers Management and delivery should be based on multiple models which test and develop private/public partnerships, community partnerships, cost based decentral management structures Develop good support and monitoring mechanisms Very new building needs a new way of being (thinking/managing)
Cultural action Artists can and do de-construct, disturb and de-stabilise preconceptions of our way of life of our society - and to contain confrontation and enthuse creative thinking Artists can and do explore and reflect themes and cultures Artists can and do open up new /old spaces Artists can and do manifest and celebrate and act as mobilisers of creativity
Networking Structures Networking within a city and networking internationally It is time that local authorities are concerned about the level of connectedness in their cities and support networking The brokering of new connections and new economic, scientific and cultural collaborations is key for future urban prosperity
Organisational talent Huddersfield : towards a creative organisation isolation partnership control influence leading enabling Information participation quantity quality uniformity diversity low risk high risk high blame low blame conformity creativity failure success
Creative cities require creative urban strategies Creative urban strategies must replace planning In order to have creative cities one needs a new form of creative planning..and this leads to notions of creative thinking, creative partnerships, creative environments, creative management as the key tools and to creative strategies as to the overall concept.