The Great Creative Class Debate Continues

Richard Florida’s The Rise of the Creative Class has been one of the most debated books about cities in recent memory. Florida argues that members of the creative class–among them artists, writers, lawyers, and technophiles–can revitalize struggling cities. In TNAC’s issue 5, Florida reaffirmed his theory of the creative class in a rebuttal to his critics. His “Revenge of the Squelchers” focused on the notion that “human creativity is the ultimate source of economic growth.”

Despite the criticisms of Florida’s work, many cities have chosen to implement his suggestions. It’s likely more will be swayed to do so by his new work, Cities and the Creative Class, being published this month by Routledge. In this issue, TNAC writers explore four places that have taken a range of approaches to attracting the creative class: Tacoma, Washington; Peekskill, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; and the state of Michigan (in various cities). 

Peekskill exemplifies a city that has followed Florida’s recommended path (though Peekskill’s initiatives predate Florida’s work). Tacoma has focused on attracting artists themselves–exactly what Florida warns his theories should not be reduced to–with quite a bit of success. Michigan is currently debating how to implement new strategies in direct reaction to Florida’s work, with strong criticism from Florida’s critics. And Cincinnati has tried a “big tent” approach, developing new urban amenities that appeal to a broad range of the region’s population and differ significantly from Florida’s prescriptions.

With these pieces, TNAC does not aim to condemn or glorify the creative class approach. Rather, we present how places put, or do not put, Florida’s much-debated theories into action. These experiments, not the debates of academics and think tanks, will over time determine the success of Florida’s proposals.