One of the major ways that the Chinese government has been pushing forward creative industry in China is through the development of creative industry parks or zones. According to Eugenie Birch, chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of City and Regional Planning, “China’s investing heavily in the knowledge worker writ large, and this has become another part of that investment…And when China does something, it does it at full force.”
The most common creative industry zones consists of an old factory or warehouse converted into an area designed for art galleries, entertainment venues and offices for designers, architects, artists and other creative types. Beijing’s 798 Art District stands out as the most well-known archetype that many developers attempt to replicate.
There are still many obstacles that creative industry needs to tackle before reaching a level of maturity seen in other countries. One of the central challenges is understanding how to foster grassroots creativity, starting with students and young creatives who all too often lack the means to develop their talent. However, the 20+ zones in Beijing, 70+ in Shanghai and many more scattered throughout the country are a welcome development for creatives looking to become a part of China’s creative industry.
Related PSFK Post: The Rise of Creative Industry in China
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Reddit
StumbleUpon
What about this doesn’t sound right? The Chinese government has to set up creative zones in their own country? Why not just let them happen on their own. Oh right, they will probably want to control what happens in these places and what is produced. I don’t think this will succeed because people need the freedom to create and I doubt the government will fully allow that. This just looks like another example of China blindly copying what other counties do just to try and look more like the west.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Thanks for the comment Dave. I do have to disagree with you based on my personal experience of dealing with the creative industry officials in Shanghai, who have consistently gone out of their way to provide free venues in these zones for concerts, creative bazaars and other events that would be difficult if not impossible to put on otherwise.
Yes, creative individuals and groups do create their own areas, but the subsidized rental rates and locations attract many creatives who have a tough time getting off the ground. If you visit Beijing or Shanghai, a large portion of creatives have worked or work in these creative zones and that is a choice by them.
In terms of controlling the content that comes out of these zones, there is little to none of this as far as I know. In fact, the government department in charge of developing the creative industry zones does not have any rights or “watch over” the zone, but rather is just helping whoever the private commercial developer is to get started and attract tenants.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:03 pm