--- title: Creative Economy type: taxonomy_archive taxonomy: topic slug: creative-economy term_id: 128 permalink: "https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/topic/creative-economy/" post_count: 23 --- # Creative Economy Posts in this archive: 23 - [How can world cities future-proof the creative economy?](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/how-can-cities-future-proof-the-creative-economy.md) — When the world of work is being turned upside down by AI and there are dire predictions about which jobs are safe and which jobs are not, to talk about ‘future-proofing’ any industry, let alone the jobs that go with it, sounds brave, and maybe even a bit crazy. But that’s exactly what two of World Cities Culture Forum’s partner cities are about to do in an intensive four-day exchange of ideas, policies and future plans. - [City of Music: How Adelaide protected its live music venues through special purpose legislation ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/city-of-music-how-adelaide-protected-its-live-music-venues-through-special-purpose-legislation.md) — The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Amendment Act 2024 is the first Australian law to formally establish a designated “live music venue area” within a city centre. This special purpose legislation was created to save a landmark live music venue – the Crown and Anchor hotel – from demolition and development.  This case highlights the delicate balance between cultural vibrancy and urban planning. Maintaining live music spaces is not only a matter of nostalgia but an essential component of a city’s social and economic fabric. - [Culture After Dark: Three Ways Cities Are Supercharging the Night-Time Economy](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/post/culture-after-dark-three-ways-cities-are-supercharging-the-night-time-economy.md) — Cities from Guangzhou to Toronto are increasingly placing culture at the heart of their night-time economies. Our 5th Edition World Cities Culture Report  shows that what was once an overlooked policy area is now firmly mainstream: 97% of cities are actively supporting night-time initiatives. - [Cultural Infrastructure: Fostering digital creative startups in Chengdu](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/chengdu-digital-creative-startups-support.md) — Chengdu’s first municipal policy for digital cultural startups provides funding, rent-free workspaces, R&D and housing support to nurture early-stage ventures, strengthening the city’s role as a hub for creative innovation and entrepreneurship. - [Sikka Arts Festival: A multidisciplinary celebration of local creativity in Dubai ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dubai-sikka-art-and-design-festival.md) — Dubai’s Sikka Art and Design Festival has grown into a year-round initiative that supports emerging creatives across disciplines, revitalises historic districts, and drives cultural participation while positioning the city as a regional hub for innovation and artistic talent. - [Creative Districts: Al Quoz Creative Zone in Dubai](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dubai-al-quoz-creative-zone.md) — Dubai’s Al Quoz Creative Zone is transforming a former industrial area into a dynamic cultural district that fosters creative enterprises, community engagement, and sustainable urban regeneration while advancing the city’s ambition to be a global hub for culture and creativity. - [Impact Measurement: Dubai’s first ever creative impact report shows culture is a huge economic driver for local and foreign investment](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/dubai-creative-impact-report.md) — Dubai’s first Creative Impact Report reveals that the city’s cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to GDP, jobs, and foreign investment, positioning culture as a central driver of economic growth, innovation, and global recognition. - [Cultural Innovation: Expanding 2,000-year-old Guangzhou Flower Market’s cultural offering](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/guangzhou-flower-market-cultural-heritage-innovation.md) — Guangzhou’s 2,000-year-old Spring Festival Flower Market, now recognised as national intangible cultural heritage, blends ancient Lunar New Year traditions with modern innovations like drone shows, street food, and riverside events to drive cultural tourism, the flower industry, and the nighttime economy. - [Heritage Innovation: How Guangzhou developed its intangible heritage into culture-led design and lifestyle products](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/heritage-innovation-how-guangzhou-developed-its-intangible-heritage-into-culture-led-design-and-lifestyle-products.md) — 'Recommended Gifts from the Bay Area' is a cultural innovation initiative from Guangzhou that transforms Lingnan intangible heritage - like food, opera, and folk festivals - into modern design products. Through creative reinterpretation of traditions such as the “Pantang’s Five Treasures” and lion dance, the initiative promotes cultural identity, stimulates the creative economy, and shows how urban policy can integrate heritage into everyday life for global audiences. - [Creative Industries: Helsinki’s '9 Actions' creative economy strategy ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/9-actions-for-helsinki-creative-industries-growth-strategy.md) — Helsinki is scaling up its commitment to the creative economy strategy through the “9 Actions” roadmap, co-developed with industry professionals. It proposes targeted steps to strengthen cultural entrepreneurship, remove administrative barriers, activate underused spaces, and support urban creative ecosystems. With global creative sectors growing rapidly, Helsinki’s long-term competitiveness hinges on how effectively it fosters creative sector growth and supports inclusive, innovation-driven cultural business models. - [Communities: Using a maritime museum to drive local economic development in Jakarta](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/jakarta-museum-for-local-economic-development-for-social-changes.md) — Jakarta’s Museum for Local Economic Development for Social Changes initiative (MLEADS) is a pioneering programme at Museum Bahari Jakarta, turning heritage into a tool for social and economic development. Through creative training, youth engagement, and cultural activities, the programme supports the Penjaringan community while aligning with Sustainable Development Goals. Backed by government and private partners, MLEADS empowers residents and repositions the museum as a living resource for inclusive urban development. - [Tourism Tax: How San Francisco leverages its hotel tax to fund the arts](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/san-francisco-hotel-tax-arts-culture-funding.md) — Launched in 2018, San Francisco’s Proposition E law redirects a portion of the city’s hotel tax to directly fund arts and culture. This voter-backed initiative created a virtuous circle: since 2023 marketing San Francisco as a vibrant cultural destination attracted more culturally engaged visitors who contribute to the hotel tax. In turn, this revenue sustains cultural programming, fosters equity, and strengthens the city’s identity as a global creative capital. - [Youth Culture Pass: How Seoul expanded access to the arts for young people](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/seoul-youth-culture-pass-access-to-arts.md) — Launched in 2023, the Seoul Youth Culture Pass provides KRW 200,000 annually to youth aged 20–23, enabling them to attend theatre, exhibitions, and more. The programme supported over 32,000 young people in 2024, promoting cultural access while stimulating Seoul’s post-COVID arts and culture scene. With high uptake and plans for future expansion, it sets a new benchmark for equitable, youth-focused cultural policy in global cities. - [Songshan Cultural and Creative Park: A cultural ecosystem incubator in Taipei ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/taipei-songshan-cultural-and-creative-park.md) — Once the Songshan Tobacco Factory, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (SCCP) has become one of Taipei’s most significant creative workspaces since its reopening in 2011. Dedicated to preserving industrial heritage and promoting creative industries, the park has established itself as “Taipei City’s Hub for Originality.” Not only is it boosting cultural offerings for city residents and visitors, SCCP also successfully incubates Taiwanese fashion brands for international markets.  - [Culture and collaboration in Cologne’s meanwhile spaces](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/cologne-meanwhile-spaces-cultural-transformation.md) — In Cologne’s city centre, culture is being tested as a catalyst for urban revival. Launched in 2024, an innovative collaboration between Cultural Space Management and TH Köln University is transforming three vacant retail units near Schildergasse and Hohe Straße into vibrant “meanwhile spaces.” By curating cultural pop-ups, performances, and community-led interventions, the project explores how temporary uses can attract new audiences, extend city life beyond retail hours, and foster social diversity. Through this living laboratory, Cologne is reimagining how culture can drive the renewal of central urban spaces in transition. - [Cultural Participation: How the London Borough of Culture made art accessible to all ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/waltham-forest-london-borough-of-culture.md) — The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme offers a borough of the capital £1.35 million to stage a year of cultural initiatives and better integrate culture in their borough. Waltham Forest was the first ever London Borough of Culture in 2019. After 1,000 events that attracted 500,000 people and £4.1 million locally, the borough has created a new Creative Enterprise Zone for artists and a new Cultural Quarter for visitors. - [How NYC Create in Place is protecting cultural space through cross-agency collaboration](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/city-project/nyc-create-in-place-cultural-space-support.md) — NYC Create in Place is a cross-agency initiative launched in 2024 to address the affordability crisis threatening the city’s cultural and creative sectors. Led by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the programme supports organisations at risk of losing space or seeking to expand. Through casework, a resource hub, and interagency collaboration, the initiative has reached over 30 organisations, safeguarding and strengthening New York’s creative infrastructure. - [African Alternatives: The Future of Creative Cities](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/publication/african-alternatives-the-future-of-creative-cities.md) — The 'African Alternatives: The Future of Creative Cities' Report shares analysis of the emerging themes and trends for cultural policy in Sub-Saharan Africa with insights from 11 African capitals.  - [Introduction and Key Findings ](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/introduction-to-world-cities-culture-report.md) — Culture is emerging as the defining force of resilient cities, driving identity, wellbeing, and economic vitality in the face of global instability, from climate change to technological disruption. Data from the World Cities Culture Report shows cultural participation and creative industries are rebounding after the pandemic, but unevenly—highlighting the urgent need for sustainable tourism, affordable workspaces, and inclusive cultural policies. - [Focus on Africa](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/african-creative-capitals.md) — Discover how Africa's creative capitals are driving forward innovation in cultural policy amidst dramatic urban development - [More Regional Trends](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/regional-cultural-policy-trends.md) — From Indigenous knowledge in Australasia to digital innovation in East Asia, cities are using culture to shape more inclusive, sustainable, and creative futures. Drawing on recent survey data and case study submissions from our cities, this section offers a snapshot of emerging cultural policy trends across regions.  While each region has its own distinctive priorities, common themes such as access to space, climate action, youth engagement, and equity, highlight the extent to which all major cities share similar challenges in defining tomorrow’s cultural landscape. - [2nd Edition](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/world-cities-culture-report-2015-2nd-edition.md) — From Museums to Streets: Unleashing the Potential of Culture in Cities. The World Cities Culture Report 2015 explores why culture is the golden thread of urban policy and how it can solve some of the biggest challenges of our urban environments. - [1st Edition](https://worldcitiescultureforum.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/report/world-cities-culture-report-2012-1st-edition.md) — The World Cities Culture Report 2012 explores how culture influences the future of cities by presenting unprecedented data on 12 global cities’ cultural life and policymaking.