Culture, Creativity and Cities

International audienceThe purpose of this book is to consider the role of culture in the life and development of cities. There has been much past discussion of this important topic, of which the “creative city” and “creative industries” concepts are among recent examples. However on-going globalization and devolution are increasing the importance of culture even further. The role of culture goes beyond just promotion of industries or attracting people, as it is central to the formation of social and human capital which contributes fundamentally to personal creativeness and the quality of life.In the first two chapters of this book previous work on culture and cities is thoroughly reviewed. Chapters 3-7 are country monographs. Each case study discusses the approaches and issues most relevant to that country and culture. The Brazilian case study demonstrates the great potential and impact of culture to change and re-create communities. The Japanese case study discusses the actual holistic development of the city as compared to the idealized creative city model. The Italian case study considers the role of culturally creative atmosphere in the present economy. The German case study examines the artistic community of Berlin emphasizing the urban planning perspective. The French case study distills issues involved in the relationship between culture and cities from the perspective of cultural consumption. Thus this book presents a multi-faceted view of the actual role of culture in cities of many nations.In the final chapter, perspectives on evolving paradigms on cultural citizenship and adapted governance will be discussed. In the global economy, a proactive urban development strategy gives priority to the promotion of international linkages between cities and the development of an urban diplomacy, while deemphasizing local human capital formation and local factors of local human creativity. Building a city on such a narrow perspective would create again a “tale of two cities”: on one hand a presupposed creative city; and on the other hand a neglected non-creative postulated city. By making local people more creative in terms of new ideas, new references, and new relations culture can lead to more flexible and imaginative solutions. Cultural citizenship means the active participation of local people through diffused imagination and grass-roots experience. Adapted governance reduces the distance between local public governance and private project expression and initiatives