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A New Rubric for ‘Creative City’ Potential in Canada’s Smaller Cities

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  • Nathaniel M. Lewis

    (Department of Geography, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada, 6nl12@queensu.ca)

  • Betsy Donald

    (Department of Geography, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada, betsy.donald@queensu.ca)

Abstract

In Canada and elsewhere, Richard Florida’s ‘creative capital’ model has gained considerable influence over urban policy and development strategies. The model posits that most cities can be economically successful if they become diverse, high-tech and amenity-rich. The way that creative capital is theorised, quantified and applied, however, tends to marginalise smaller Canadian cities. We use recent census data and qualitative evidence from a study on the social dynamics of economic performance in Kingston, Ontario, to argue that a new rubric based on livability and sustainability provides a more optimistic and empowering picture of creative potential in smaller Canadian cities. Critiques of creative capital thus far have tended to discredit the model entirely, leaving large cities as winners by default in an irrational capitalist system and small cities with few options. Instead, the goal of this paper is to change fundamentally the parameters of the creativity debate for smaller cities by offering new ways to conceptualise and operationalise development in the ‘new economy’.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathaniel M. Lewis & Betsy Donald, 2010. "A New Rubric for ‘Creative City’ Potential in Canada’s Smaller Cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(1), pages 29-54, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:47:y:2010:i:1:p:29-54
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098009346867
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Pier Luigi Sacco & Alessandro Crociata, 2013. "A Conceptual Regulatory Framework for the Design and Evaluation of Complex, Participative Cultural Planning Strategies," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 1688-1706, September.
    2. Peter Karl Kresl, 2012. "The future of Europe's smaller cities and towns," Chapters, in: Peter Karl Kresl & Daniele Ietri (ed.), European Cities and Global Competitiveness, chapter 16, pages 294-311, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Tara Vinodrai, 2011. "Understanding Canada’s Evolving Design Economy," Chapters, in: David Emanuel Andersson & Åke E. Andersson & Charlotta Mellander (ed.), Handbook of Creative Cities, chapter 8, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Peter Karl Kresl & Daniele Ietri (ed.), 2012. "European Cities and Global Competitiveness," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14626.
    5. Shu-Hen Chiang, 2014. "The dilemma of "Twin Cities": is the suburban dependence hypothesis applicable?," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(2), pages 149-163, June.

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