Creative city strategies on the municipal agenda in New York. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldberg-Miller, Shoshanah B.D.
• Is Part Of: City, culture and society. Number 17(2019)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 37
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Agenda setting theory -- Urban planning -- Cultural policy -- Creative cities -- Economic development -- Municipal governance -- Return to the city; Cities and towns -- Periodicals; Urban anthropology -- Periodicals; Sociology, Urban -- Periodicals; Cities and towns; Sociology, Urban; Urban anthropology; Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccs.2018.08.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-9166

Abstract

Abstract: What are creative city strategies and how can they gain a place on a municipal agenda? I analyze data from 21 semi-structured interviews with key policymakers, nonprofit leaders, developers, and philanthropists, together with archival and historical materials to uncover ways that creative city interventions were employed during the 2000s in New York. Using the lens of Multiple Streams' agenda setting theory, I identify evidence of creative citybuilding and cultural policy on New York's municipal agenda. Anchoring the analysis are discussions of field building, agenda setting, the return to the city center, and facets of what I term, "urban allure." Urban allure consists of hard factors including the cultural built environment, arts and design amenities, live/work options and opportunities for the creative class to flourish as well as soft factors, such as the 'coolness' of a city, its attractiveness both as a tourist destination and a draw to residents, and the numerous cultural opportunities that make an urban center vital. I find that during that decade New York underwent a creative resurgence, wherein the creative sector was a factor in a municipal strategy for revitalization after the exogenous shock of 9/11. The vernacular creative sector played a less formal, but still important role in regenerating urban allure, often agglomerating in the boroughs outside of Manhattan. Discussion both of the top-down and bottom up aspects of the creative city offer ways to understand the components and aspects of each. Highlights: The emergent field of creative city studies blends urban planning, cultural policy and community development strategies. Hoping to attract Millennials and Baby Boomers downtown, urban allure blends walkability, cultural options and agglomeration. Urban allure blends hard factors such as the cultural built environment with soft factors including the 'coolness' of a place. Municipal actors placing cultural policy choices on the agenda can be influenced by the polis and policy entrepreneurs. Creative city strategies gained traction in New York after 9/11 through a powerful leader's vision of cultural resurgence.