Abstract
In recent years, the ecological shift from an economically driven model of arts and culture to that of an ecosystem in the creative industries determined the emergence of a range of new bottom-up, place-based networks herewith referred to as “creative networks”. This article explores how these networks can generate sustainability for local creative ecosystems through a value network approach. Building on the quadruple helix model to identify the actors in these networks, this study explores the relationships and value flows between the actors of 22 identified creative networks across the UK. It then maps these relationships using data gathered through a mixed methodology that includes survey data and focus group research. Our findings show that creative networks operate as central nodes of the local creative ecosystem, functioning as a ‘glue’ inside the otherwise very heterogenous creative industries. From this position, creative networks can act as catalysts for sustainability. However, the economic, cultural, and social value created by creative networks is often overshadowed by other challenges including a lack of funding and a lack of understanding from policy makers or the public.
Highlights
Research into creativity has progressed significantly in the past few decades from individual to collective, and more recently to a systems-based account of creativity [1,2,3], which looks at the whole creative ecosystem
Monetary flows, which integrate a different kind of direct and project-based funding; Collaboration/cooperation flows, which includes how creative networks create access to and connections between different actors in the value network; Service/knowledge flows, which includes the provision of services and other knowledge to different actors; Less tangible cultural value flows, including the creation of values through placemaking, socio-cultural impacts and spill-over effects. We argue that these value flows that are generated through creative networks in local creative industries create sustainability within the local creative ecosystem
Creative networks operate as a central node between a wide array of actors, receiving value from the creative network, and at the same time, creating value for the creative network
Summary
Research into creativity has progressed significantly in the past few decades from individual to collective, and more recently to a systems-based account of creativity [1,2,3], which looks at the whole creative ecosystem. We define creative ecosystems as spatial agglomerations of creative activities in which links/collaborations between creative actors take place [4]. Such a system perspective [5] addresses the different contexts and levels at which creativity occurs—individual, group, institutional and sociocultural [6,7]. Research on creative ecosystems [8,9,10,11,12,13] builds on the understanding that creativity is a phenomenon that arises in dynamic transactions between individuals. That by advancing research into networks in which creativity can flourish [21], this approach to creativity gives room to look at the whole creative ecosystem [22] and how this can create sustainability
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