Creative People and Industries for Growth and Development : A case study of the municipality of Kalmar

Sammanfattning: This thesis examines the relationship between place and creative people and industries. The shift from industrial economies to knowledge-driven economies has ushered in what some scholars refer to as the Creative Economy. At the heart of this new economy are the Creative Industries, which consist of people, creativity, skill and talent. These industries, which are creating more jobs and adding increased value to products and services, represent one of the largest and fastest growing sectors. In Sweden, the Creative Industries are increasingly being recognized as an important asset for global competitiveness and research reveals that 35% of Sweden’s employed are considered part of the so-called ‘Creative Class’: artists, researchers, managers and other related professionals. The research also reveals, however, that there is an uneven distribution of this talent pool throughout the country. As regional growth is of continual concern in Sweden, there has been an increased focus on the potential of the Creative Industries to stimulate development on the local and regional level. The municipality of Kalmar recognizes that its strong cultural institutions are among its greatest assets and they are working to integrate culture and cultural values into the city planning process in order to create an attractive environment. In addition, their recent establishment as a university town is considered to be of the utmost significance in their struggle to attract creative people and industries, and Linnaeus University is recognized as an important motor for regional development as well as a seedbed for innovation, research and new companies.