my presentation at international cultural studies conference in HK 2010

1. Creative Entrepreneurs and Creative Clusters in Shanghai Prof. Justin O’Connor Dr. XinGu Queensland University of Technology

2. About the Research Australian Research Council (Linkage project) – Designing creative clusters in China and Australia (2009 – 2012) Five areas: Design (using urban informatics tools) Theorization of cluster models in the west Methdologies for ‘soft infrastructure’ in China and Australia Mapping and Statistics Management and business services Intercultural policy exchange

3. ‘those industries which have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent and which have a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation and exploitation of intellectual property ’ (Department of Culture, Media and Sports, 1998)

4. The idea of ‘creative clusters’ Initially used to identify why certain places persisted over time and adapted. Clusters come from a complex set of sources and interpreted in different ways Clusters about locality and embedded knowledge – not just agglomeration but ‘atmosphere’. 1980s: a way of pro-actively creating such areas.

5. Creative cluster as policy in UK It is about: Urban Regeneration City Branding, Re-imagine the city It’s also about: Cultural/ Creative Industries –SMEs in particular Shifted from generic business support to social networks development services (eg. CIDS) Local vs. Global

6. Re-framing Creative Industries in China China’s Creative Economy Era has arrived! From ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’ It’s about ‘catching up’ the west; the successful western model have been replicated uncritically – especially ‘creative clusters’

7. Creative Cluster as policy in China Post-industrial cities (such as Shanghai) – similar problems to the west, but different ‘language’ Creative Cluster Development Policy as Creative Industries Development Policy – recognize SMEs but gather them in clusters Justify economic importance of creative clusters

9. Re-inventing its colonial past – city branding

11. Where are the profits in cluster development? Tax deduction Rent deduction Government Fund (differentiated by districts) Advertisement Big events/exhibition Investment in surrounding properties Shares in businesses within clusters

12. M50 – from grassroots to flagship

13. M50

14. ‘Image Tunnel’

15. First Wave - From Artist to Entrepreneur Artist : Han Yu Qi Director of Image Tunnel

16. The Image Tunnel Contradiction ‘Han is not a real artist; she is a capitalist’ ‘Image Tunnel is no different to any other commercial practices’ ‘Image tunnel ripped off my IP’ ‘Han is naïve’ Han: I am an artist first and cultural entrepreneur second!

17. From work studio to art market

18. Place of production and Place of consumption combined It’s good because: Networking First hand knowledge about the art market Co-branding But the problems are: Noisy, increasing rent, disruption by visitors… Hard to retain Cliché in an ‘open’ market Being associated with ‘too commercial’

19. The ‘clustering’ effect

20. Deja Vu…

22. It’s alright to make money for artists

24. Separation of Place of production and consumption It doesn’t matter whether it’s a cluster or not It has to be cheap, very very cheap I like quietness when I am working. So definitely no visitors Convenient Chen:cultural entrepreneur is about learning as you go, you have to find your own way. This has always been the situation in China.

26. Don’t draw attention to yourself! Hideaway space for artists in the city Limited infrastructure & Resources within the cluster – it’s a strategy Cluster has no recognition in the city, artists’ social activity happen elsewhere. It’s purely for production Unstable future – owned by the state, prone to be sold to commercial developer

27. Landscape of cultural economy in the city It’s about economic discourse, but also social and cultural ones Distinctiveness of local cultural economy The ecology of ‘creative milieu’ Market embedded in local socio-cultural context

28. Creative clusters is not just place of production nor should it be about cultural consumption. The creative ecology demands substances that are able to connect creative entrepreneurs – their work and social life for the exchange of ideas. This will then lead to urban issues not vice verse.