Creativity, Culture and Urban Development: Toronto Examined

Abstract

This paper is driven by the desire to provide public policy makers with: first, a context for the debate on the links between creativity, culture and urban development; and, second, some guidance on the shaping of decisions of consequence for society. To satisfy the first objective, the author elaborates a conceptual model of the process of human and societal development, and then looks briefly at creativity and cities, and the meanings of culture. To satisfy the second objective, the author provides an analysis of the City of Toronto structured around four themes: creativity and governance; creativity, knowledge and information; culture, creative industries and urban development; and creative spaces in urban development. The City's strengths and shortcomings are assessed, giving the reader a sense of how well Toronto is performing as a setting that is enabling of creativity and fostering a cultural environment that is contributing to an improved quality of life. The author concludes with a caution: in orchestrating the creative tension between outsiders and insiders (which makes for the culture of cities), Toronto has to take care to avoid making commodities of culture and creativity.