Given our commitment in Cape Town to supporting and developing creative industries, I was interested to see what Toronto is doing when I visited there two weeks ago. After all, it’s where Richard Florida, influential writer on the role of the creative classes in cities, now directs the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think-tank that focuses on the role of sub-national factors – location, place and city-regions – in global economic prosperity.
I was fortunate to be able to spend an evening with Greg Baeker, co-founder of AuthentiCity, a Toronto-based consulting practice that “works with municipalities, local business and community coalitions to build local economies through culture through three core services: cultural mapping, municipal cultural plans, and research and workshops.” Greg referred me to the Creative City Planning Framework, a project that he worked on for the City of Toronto.
The Will Alsop-designed Sharp Centre for Design, part of the Ontario College of Art and Design (picture from the Toronto Creative City Planning Framework Report)
I was also able to spend time with Pru Robey, who briefed me on Artscape, a innovative not-for-profit, urban development organization in Toronto that “revitalizes buildings, neighbourhoods, and cities through the arts. Artscape projects provide affordable space for creativity while generating positive cultural, economic, social, and environmental impact.”
Pru also referred me to the Centre for Social Innovation, a dynamic space in downtown Toronto, Canada. The Centre’s mission is “to spark and support new ideas that are tackling the social, environmental, economic and cultural challenges we face today. We’re creating the spaces that social innovation needs to thrive and we’re contributing a few of our own ideas along the way!”
There’s also 410 Richmond, a historic warehouse in downtown Toronto and home to over 140 cultural producers and microenterprises. At 401 Richmond, “the vibrant mix of tenants has come to know each other and collaborate on projects. The synergy of tenants and practices supports and fosters both business and creativity. Physical and ideological infrastructures have been put in place: a newsletter, café/gathering place, an arts-enriched early learning centre, community courtyard, and roof garden. All these enhance the commercial, cultural and community activities within these four walls.”
Finally, I had the pleasure of listening to Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University, which occupies several blocks of downtown Toronto. The university’s strategy is to integrate itself into the urban fabric as much as possible, based on goals of density, people first (cars second) and design excellence. Sheldon Levy quoted Daniel Burnham, Chief Planner for the City of Chicago, 1909: “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir the blood and probably will not be realized. Make big plans. Aim high in hope and work,” and Ryerson’s commitment to making the university part of the city reflects this.
Lots to learn from Toronto for our own Creative Cape Town projects, such as the East City Design Initiative , Imagine City Hall , and Creative Clusters!
PS: Don’t miss the next Cape Town Design Network 2010 event on 11 May: Design, Innovation and the City; Speakers: Nick Leon (Design London) and Lorelle Bell (Cape Town for World Design Capital 2014 Bid). For more information, go to the Creative Cape Town Facebook page. Better still, become a member – there are currently 3711.
