Shrinkage and culture as a tool to counteract it

Yvonne Rijpers & Mark Verhijde

Creative economy – outline Creative economy – outline

•Focus of local policiesFocus of local policies

•Most dynamic in the worldMost dynamic in the world

•Fuelled by FloridaFuelled by Florida

•Fierce competition on a global level for creative Fierce competition on a global level for creative industries and creative classindustries and creative class

Creative economy – a chance?Creative economy – a chance?

•Catalyst for local economyCatalyst for local economy

•Creative economy as a tool to fight economic declineCreative economy as a tool to fight economic decline

•Example: EU ‘Cultural Capital of Europe’Example: EU ‘Cultural Capital of Europe’

•However: However:

•Policy to ‘build’ a creative city – widely disputedPolicy to ‘build’ a creative city – widely disputed

•What about the competition?What about the competition?

ManchesterManchester

LiverpoolLiverpool

Essen Essen

HeerlenHeerlen

•Core of mono-functional (mining) regionCore of mono-functional (mining) region

•Shrinkage due to a combination of causes:Shrinkage due to a combination of causes:

•Economic: de-industrialization in the 1960’sEconomic: de-industrialization in the 1960’s

•Demographic: ageing of the populationDemographic: ageing of the population

•Ageing populationAgeing population

•Mainly native inhabitantsMainly native inhabitants

•Low-income populationLow-income population

•Decreasing unemploymentDecreasing unemployment

•Flight of young peopleFlight of young people

Heerlen – demography Heerlen – demography

Heerlen – culture and creative industryHeerlen – culture and creative industry

•TNO on Southern Tripool: small & fragile base, some TNO on Southern Tripool: small & fragile base, some interesting optionsinteresting options

•Creativity industry: 2,3% of workforce (2,9 % NLCreativity industry: 2,3% of workforce (2,9 % NL

•Annual growth: business 3,7%, jobs 0,7%Annual growth: business 3,7%, jobs 0,7%

•Heerlen: little creative clusteringHeerlen: little creative clustering

•Heerlen: strong in theatres, stages, eventsHeerlen: strong in theatres, stages, events

•Heerlen: no clear focus of creative industryHeerlen: no clear focus of creative industry

Heerlen – strategyHeerlen – strategy

•TNO research as starting point. TNO research as starting point.

•Policy on creative industry with focus on:Policy on creative industry with focus on:

•Young ‘urban’ cultureYoung ‘urban’ culture

•Creative entrepreneurship and businessCreative entrepreneurship and business

•Cultural heritage & tourismCultural heritage & tourism

•Culture and citizen participationCulture and citizen participation

Young Urban CultureYoung Urban Culture

•Attracting International Break-dance Event (IBE)Attracting International Break-dance Event (IBE)

•Wish to regain the educated youthWish to regain the educated youth

•Look & feel of city are not accordinglyLook & feel of city are not accordingly

•Double strategy: “They have to leave and come back.”Double strategy: “They have to leave and come back.”

•Research elsewhere points out: this does not happenResearch elsewhere points out: this does not happen

Creative entrepreneurship and businessCreative entrepreneurship and business

•Facilitating artists and business with workspace and Facilitating artists and business with workspace and cultural-economic meeting spacescultural-economic meeting spaces

•Municipality is ‘creative’: with permits, rules & Municipality is ‘creative’: with permits, rules & regulationsregulations

•Not visible and no creative ‘look & feel’Not visible and no creative ‘look & feel’

•No monitoring on effectsNo monitoring on effects

Cultural heritage & tourismCultural heritage & tourism

•Hoensbroek Castle & SnowworldHoensbroek Castle & Snowworld

•Cultural events; festivals and fairsCultural events; festivals and fairs

•Regional centre for theatres, films, musicRegional centre for theatres, films, music

•Mix of cultural and non-cultural attractions (IKEA)Mix of cultural and non-cultural attractions (IKEA)

•Too many non-cultural attractions?Too many non-cultural attractions?

Culture and citizen participationCulture and citizen participation

•Culture ‘brokers’ for art projects in neighborhoodsCulture ‘brokers’ for art projects in neighborhoods

•Urban gardening on vacant lots between Urban gardening on vacant lots between neighborhoodsneighborhoods

•Creating sense of pride and empowerment among Creating sense of pride and empowerment among populationpopulation

Conclusions & recommendations Conclusions & recommendations

•Culture: mainly a tool for economic regenerationCulture: mainly a tool for economic regeneration

•Focus: employment & tourism, not specific cultural sector Focus: employment & tourism, not specific cultural sector

•Main USP: easily accessible and flexible spaceMain USP: easily accessible and flexible space

•Competition: no intension or strategyCompetition: no intension or strategy

•Policy effects: unknown – monitoring is necessaryPolicy effects: unknown – monitoring is necessary

•Make explicit choice for Heerlen as node of shrinking Make explicit choice for Heerlen as node of shrinking regionregion