“The aim is to unravel whether and how being located in a historical, industrial building inspires artists and creative entrepreneurs”

 

PI: Yosha Wijngaarden

Expected end of subproject: winter 2015

 


 

Creative work in industrial heritage

The second half of the twentieth century has often been characterized in terms of the transformation from a Fordist to a post-Fordist society. Urban neighbourhoods once defined by manufacturing, industrial work practices and the production of goods and services had become derelict abandoned places. Already from the 1960’s, some of these places were soon to be occupied by artists (Zukin, 1982). In the 1990’s, together with the rise of the cultural and creative industries as a legitimate sector these neglected former industrial areas were increasingly considered an urban amenity, valuable for the creation of post-Fordist business and particularly creative work. At this moment, one can find these creative business centres hosted in former industrial constructions almost everywhere.

Why do creative workers locate so frequently in old factories or historical buildings? Zukin (1982) mentioned the low rents and large spaces, though nowadays, many creative business centres are no longer as low-priced as the squat buildings and lofts of earlier decades. The aim is to unravel whether and how being located in a historical, industrial building inspires artists and creative entrepreneurs. This will be studied by conducting in-depth interviews with creative firms about their relation to their workspace and its history.