As Mommaas (2004) explains, such ‘cultural-creative clusters’ are designed
to produce a range of outcomes, including
Strengthening the Identity, Attraction Power and Market Position of
Places
Stimulating a More ‘Entrepreneurial’ Approach to the Arts and Culture
Stimulating Innovation and Creativity
Finding a New Use for Old Buildings and Derelict Sites
Stimulating Cultural Diversity and Cultural Democracy
Creative clusters therefore have an important role in building the
local creative economy, as well as attracting tourists and adding to
the attractiveness of places. This wide range of roles underlines the
broadening scope of creativity, and the gradual shifting from a narrow
to a broader view of creativity: ‘In the cognitive-cultural economy
of the twenty-first century the entire city or region is implicated in
processes of learning, creativity and innovation.’ (Scott, 2010, pp.
126–127). However, the very existence of creative clusters also underlines
the fact that places with particular endowed advantages may often
be best placed to take advantage of the creative economy. In the
case of many creative clusters the old industrial fabric developed on
the basic of specific endowed resources provides the space required
to develop new creative activities. Cities such as London, or Rotterdam
or Shanghai, once at the forefront of the old industrial economy
are now also at the forefront of the creative economy, at least
in part because of their plentiful supply of rehabilitated ‘creative
spaces’.
123