Creative workers' perception of place in Edmonton Canada

Abstract

Wider social, cultural, and geographical acceptance of creative class theory has inspired city planners to appeal to creative workers. While creative class literature assumes that creative workers develop similar conceptions of place regardless of geographic location, local context, or how individuals identify with and develop attachment to place, a comprehensive analysis of the ways people experience space in relation to creative class theory is lacking. Using a phenomenographic research approach and a framework grounded in theories of place, this study explores conceptions of place among 28 creative workers in Edmonton, Canada. Using a series of interviews and cultural probe exercises designed to provoke creative and emotional responses, this study reveals that, contrary to the literature, participants describe strong attachment to place, a sense of belonging, and a commitment and responsibility to the city, which they describe as tolerant and diverse, with flexible class boundaries. Participants are found to possess both strong and weak ties to social capital, with place not being a means of maintaining weak ties to several social circles. The study concludes that planning policy needs to give due consideration to the genius loci of a place in order to understand how its residents and socioeconomic groups conceive and understand the world around them. Thus, these findings trouble the generalizability of creative class theory, while highlighting the importance and significance of the locale in terms of applying broad policy goals and objectives. • Creative workers' perception of place is locale specific. • Edmonton's creative workers possess strong attachment and commitment to place. • Place is not a means to maintain weak ties to social capital. • How weak ties are accessed contradict Florida's claims in the literature. • Study casts doubt on the relevance of Florida's creative capital theory.