The Creative City : A Toolkit for Urban Innovators

Cities have always been the crucible of culture and civilization--and the hubs of wealth creation. But today they face enormous challenges. Compounded by infrastructural, economic and social problems, dramatic changes are taking place. If cities are to flourish, there has to be a paradigm shift in the way they are managed, to draw fully on the talents and creativity of their own residents--businesses, city authorities and the citizens themselves.

The Creative City is both a clarion call for imaginative action in the development and running of urban life and a clear and detailed toolkit of methods by which our cities can be revived and revitalized. Presenting case studies and examples of urban innovation and regeneration from around the world, it analyzes the crucial steps and disciplines involved. It shows how to think, plan and act creatively in addressing urban issues, and how to apply the methods described in any city.

Charles Landry is Director of COMEDIA, a leading cultural consultancy which he founded in 1978, and an independent consultant for the World Bank.