ZiM Debate #07

[ Tuesday, 5 April 2005 ]

The autocracy of creativity: Does “the rise of the creative class” harm “democratic” principles?

with Bettina Springer PhD student at Humboldt University Berlin

"The Rise of the Creative Class" by Richard Florida has not only been enthusiastically reviewed; furthermore city officials dealing with urban redevelopment have gratefully embraced his concept of the creative city as a cure-all for decline-ridden cities. Although Florida does not fail to concede that the growth of the creative class enforces social segregation and that up to date only 30% of the population are taking part in the creative economy, he nevertheless sees the key to a general benefit for the collective good in the mobilization of the creativity of the remaining two-third-majority.

By having a deeper look on the impact of art on urban space this debate questions the general welfare of the “rise of the creative class”, with art as one small part of the cultural industries. Although some art specific mechanisms withstand a one-to-one-transformation to the creative industry as a whole they tackle some issues that are doubtless of a more general importance. This debate is dealing with the interrelation of public art practices with the way of how public space is dealt with in general, thus questioning the democratic aspect of the ”concept of creativity”.