Cities: Art and the Creative Class Aren't Going to Save You

Thomas Sevcik says that hoping for an economic benefit by attracting the creative class and artists is a wrongheaded strategy.

1 minute read

December 17, 2010, 9:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


Yael Friedman at Urban Omnibus comments on Sevcik's provocative presentation at Art Babel, which Sevcik admits is the wrong audience, saying, "I'm very sorry, I should be talking to mayors and art strategists at cities instead of the people in the art business."

Friedman summarizes Sevcik's presentation:

"Sevcik posed several challenges to the accepted wisdom about the impact of the creative industries on cities. Along with questioning the Bilbao Effect, he targeted the value of the 'creative industries' themselves. He posited that the creative industries are actually innovation-averse, citing several studies that argue that, due to chronic under-funding, 'once [creative industries] find a formula [of] how they can sell a product – a special type of website or special strategy – they tend then to sell the same thing over and over.'"

Art Salon | Urbanism | Why Art and the Creative Class will Never Save Cities from Art Basel on Vimeo.

Thursday, December 16, 2010 in Urban Omnibus

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Person in yellow safety suit and white helmet kneels to examine water samples outdoors on a lake shore.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure

If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

May 1, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Concrete building wth Department of Housing and Urban Development sign

Local Governments Sue HUD Over Funding Cuts

A new lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration’s revised guidelines for housing and homelessness assistance funds will decimate key programs.

1 hour ago - The Mercury News

Inside of self-driving truck on road.

California Is Retooling its AV Guidelines

The California DMV is proposing a new framework for light- and heavy-duty self-driving trucks that would enhance reporting requirements and pave the way for autonomous commercial fleets.

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Row of two-story homes in Boulder, Colorado.

Proposed Boulder Ballot Measures Call for Impact Fees, Affordable Duplexes

Boulder residents are working to put two housing-related proposals on the November ballot.

3 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO