Creative Industries and the Urban Environment (2017-2018)

The term creative or cultural industries refers to industries that combine the creation, production and commercialization of creative contents that are intangible and cultural in nature. Over the past ten years, Durham has witnessed a boom in a number of key cultural initiatives including the Durham Performing Arts Center and Golden Belt, among others. These have not only enriched the city’s image but have also attracted other creative ventures, and are often seen as triggers for the local economy.

This Bass Connections project examined the relationship between urban development and cultural production in specific contemporary and historical contexts, then zoomed in to focus on Durham. Team members collected and analyzed data on the economic impact of the so-called creative class, as defined by urbanist Richard Florida. Digging into housing values, labor economics, the impact of Spanish-speaking communities, the role of tolerance and diversity in economic development and other topics, they produced five working papers that are being compiled into a published volume of articles. To share findings with the community, they have begun planning a local exhibition in partnership with Durham city government.

Timing

Fall 2017 – Spring 2018

Team Outputs

Housing Values and the Creative Class: Economic Effects in Durham, N.C. (manuscript by Felipe Alvarez de Toledo)

Durham’s Creative Economy: Mapping the Arts, Creative Industries and the Creative Class in a Time of Rapid Urban Growth (manuscript by Laura Ritchie and Gentry Fitch)

Dollars in Durham: A First Glance at the Labor Economics of the Creative Class in Durham from 2005-2016 (manuscript by Jonathan Chapman and Jessica Chen)

Creative Industries and the Urban Environment (talk at Bass Connections Showcase by Jonathan Chapman and Laura Ritchie, April 18, 2018)

Creative Industries and the Urban Environment (poster by Jonathan Chapman, Jess Chen, Laura Ritchie, Gentry Fitch, Tatiana Ermakova), presented at Bass Connections Showcase, April 18, 2018

Creative Industries and the Urban Environment (poster by Laura Ritchie, Gentry Fitch, Felipe Alvarez de Toledo, Ben Ayto, Dan Lilienthal, Mariana Frattaroli), presented at Bass Connections Showcase, April 18, 2018

Videos

Creative Industries and the Urban Environment

Reflections

Jess Chen

This Team in the News

These Ph.D. Graduates Leveraged Bass Connections and Other Interdisciplinary Opportunities

As Arts and Culture Flourish in Durham, Students Assess the Economic Impact

Watch Highlights from the 2018 Bass Connections Showcase

Bass Connections Showcase Presents Research Highlights from Durham to Malaysia

Join Us for Two Bass Connections Special Events on April 18 and 19

Investigating the Economics of Durham’s Arts Scene

See related team, Creative Industries and the Urban Environment (2018-2019).

Bass Connections team members

Team Leaders

  • Fiene Leunissen, Arts & Sciences-Art, Art History, and Visual Studies
  • Eric Monson, Duke Libraries
  • Hans van Miegroet, Arts & Sciences-Art, Art History, and Visual Studies

/graduate Team Members

  • Kaylee Alexander, Art and Art History-AM
  • Felipe Alvarez de Toledo, Art and Art History-AM, Art and Art History-PHD
  • Corinna Egdorf, Carolina-Duke German-AM
  • Laura Ritchie, Liberal Studies-AM

/undergraduate Team Members

  • Benjamin Ayto, Int Comparative Studies (AB)
  • Jonathan Chapman, Economics (BS), Political Science (AB2)
  • Jessica Chen, Art History (AB)
  • Sini Chen, Public Policy Studies (AB)
  • Tatiana Ermakova, Economics (BS)
  • John Fitch, Mathematics (BS), History (AB2)
  • Marina Frattaroli, Art History (AB)
  • Dan Lilienthal, Psychology (AB)

/yfaculty/staff Team Members

  • Patrick Herron, Arts & Sciences-Art, Art History, and Visual Studies
  • Lee Sorensen, Duke Libraries
  • Mark Thomas, Duke Libraries