Creative Cities: The case for a focus on creativity in cities and
international cooperation amongst so called “second cities” in SE Asia.
Presentation at the GTF Creative Cities Forum
By Martin Venzky-Stalling, Senior Advisor, Chiang Mai University Science &
Technology Park, Secretariat of Creative Chiang Mai
martin@creativechiangmai.com
1 August 2014
Introduction
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second
city with a population of about half
a million people. Situated 800
kilometers North of Bangkok,
Chiang Mai is a city of culture
and tradition in transition.
The city has a distinct culture
(“Lanna”), with more temples than
any other cities in Thailand, and a
lot of historical sites including
portions of an old city wall that are
still intact.
Building on its 700 years of history and heritage as the Northern Capital of culture,
administration, trade and commerce, the city has turned into a tourist, logistical and
educational hub and now has over 100,000 students at eight universities. There are
direct flights to China, Myanmar, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong.
2
Launched in 2010, Chiang Mai Creative City (CMCC) is a
Governor endorsed local, bottom up, voluntary initiative,
think tank, and network consisting of over 40
organisations
Universities
/ Education
Industry /
Associations
We aim to keep the beauty and
charm of Chiang Mai, but also
develop new jobs and grow the
economy by leveraging
innovation and creativity
Government /
Agencies
3
But Creative Chiang Mai is a vision, a network and an initiative – it
is not an entity (at least not yet) and not a project (open ended)
The Chiang Mai University Science &
Technology Park (CMU STeP) is the secretariat.
And there is an official committee (CMCC)
4
So this is my office at the moment - until the
construction of the Science Park has been completed
Creative Chiang Mai Secretariat @ Chiang Mai
University Science & Technology Park (CMU STeP)
2nd floor Research and Technology Transfer Building
Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University
239 Huay Kaew Rd., Suthep, Muang, Chiang Mai,
Thailand, 50200
http://www.step.cmu.ac.th
www.facebook.com/TDCI.CMU
www.creativechiangmai.com
Telephone: 053-942-088-91 ext. 208
Mobile phone: (66)-8-1969-6919
Fax: 053-942-088-91 ext. 413
ี งใหม่สร ้างสรรค์เป็ นเครือข่าย โดยอุทยาน
เชย
ี งใหม่
วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี มหาวิทยาลัยเชย
(CMU STeP) ทาหน ้าทีเ่ ป็ นเลขานุการ
5
What is creativity?
UNCTAD Creative Economy Report 2008
6
Creative “Industries”
Chiang Mai’s traditional backbone is its cultural heritage, but other creative activities and clusters
such as design, digital content, and IT/software development have been growing rapidly and
support key existing sector and have high investment and value added potential
Cultural Heritage
Arts
Media
Functional Creation
 Crafts
 Performing Arts
 Film
 Design
 Historical & Cultural
Tourism
 Visual Arts
 Publishing
 Fashion
 Broadcasting
 Architecture
 Multimedia,
Animation,
Digital Content
 Advertising
 Thai food
 Traditional Medicine
 Software/ICT
 Music
Draft not to be quoted
7
Creative Economy, Economy of Creativity, Creative City
Creative City/
Ecology
Economy of
Creativity
Creative
Industries/
Clusters
8
Renewed interest in cities and urban areas
Alex Steffen: The shareable future of cities
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/alex_steffen.html
Triumph of the City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsofgp01tZs&feature=related
TEDxLiffey Dylan Haskins - The Creative City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUq209Dk_Sc
9
But why Chiang Mai? Isn’t Chiang Mai……
Slow life, Wellness
Coffee against
sleepiness
Temple & Culture,
Tradition
Crafted, cute, cheap
10
City in Transition – Tradition meets Change and Modernization
11
Largest software and digital content cluster outside of Bangkok,
also a large number of digital nomads and freelancers.
Chiang Mai’s Digital Content, IT and Software Sector
(DCITS)
12
Creative Coffee Event in mid June @
31st Century Museum
... with Khun Kamin
Lertchaiprasert @
31st Century Museum of
Contemporary Spirit, Station)
100/6 Moo 10, Soi Wat Umong,
Suthep Rd., Muang, CM
?
http://31century.org/
http://www.creativechiangmai.c
om/events
13
Chiang Mai Design Awards – CDA 2013 Award
Ceremony November 2013 https://www.facebook.com/cda2013
…. And just launched CDA 2014
14
CNXP - Chiang Mai Experience – Tech – Music – Photo/Film
6/7 December 2013 http://www.cnxpfest.com/
15
handmade-chiangmai Phase 3
www.handmade-chiangmai.com
16
Photos from TEDxChiangMai 2013
ภาพจากงานในปี
2013
17
27 September 2014 in Chiang Mai
600 seats,
20+ speakers
8:30am-6:30pm
27 กันยายน 2557 วันนีต้ อ้ งอยู เ่ ชียงใหม่
กว่า 600 ที่นงั่
วิทยากร 20 กว่าท่าน
เวลา 08:30-18:30 น.
We had lecturers from leading cities and regions around
the world
The Florida High Tech Corridor (FHTC) is a successful
example of 3 major regional universities getting
together to jointly develop the region
The objective is to grow is to growth high-tech
industry in the region through research
collaboration, workforce development and
marketing. FHTC Council involves more than 25
local and regional agencies, the 3 universities cochair.
Mission: the City of Austin is committed to pursuing
economic development policies that enhance local
prosperity. The City is in a position to more directly
influence the future of the local economy in part through
its economic development policies, including those
focused on emerging technology.
• Clean Energy Digital Media Wireless Biotechnology
and Life Sciences Early-Stage Technology
Commercialization
19
In late September, a smaller delegation also attended a Creative Economy Conference
in Germany and visited several organisations such as science parks, technology
centers, etc.
Creativity Conference, Bonn
Creativity Conference, Bonn
Creative and Design Center in Science Park
20
21
http://creativecities.britishcouncil.org/
British Council Creative City Networks (Asia and Europe)
22
http://urbact.eu/en/projects/innovation-creativity/creative-clusters/homepage/
Creative Cluster in Low Urban Density Areas
23
Keep Austin Weird
24
CMCC at Global Smart Cities Congress in Barcelona,
Meeting leaders from over 80 cities
25
26
Edinburgh
City of Literature
Bologna
City of Music
27
28
UNESCO Creative Cities Network
29
Southeast Asia Creative Cities Network
Established in Chiang Mai on 3th/4th April 2014
1st SEA Creative Cities Forum
PHASE 1
Participants included representatives from
 Jakarta
 Bandung
 Penang
 Kuala Lumpur
 Kuching
 Hanoi
 Cebu
Chiang Mai
The SEA Creative Cities Network was
informally established at this forum
The 1st Forum was held in conjunction with the handmade-chiangmai, a cooperation between Creative
Chiang Mai and the British Council, focusing on promoting the craft sector of Chiang Mai
30
การประชุ มเมืองสร้างสรรค์ในอาเซียน + สัมมนาโครงการแฮนด์เมด-เชียงใหม่
3-4 เมษายน ณ ศูนย์สร้างสรรค์งานออกแบบเชียงใหม่ (TCDC)
เมษายน
www.facebook.com/events/405846776217981/
31
1st Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network
Forum, 1-2 April 2014 in Chiang Mai
www.facebook.com/events/405846776217981
32
1st Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network
Forum, 1-2 April 2014 in Chiang Mai
www.facebook.com/events/405846776217981
33
20 videos of all talks are available online
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWu8FwGKTfL_Bl
16nLigmXC59IN-KIO0x
34
2nd Southeast Asian Creative Cities Forum
1-2 August 2014 @ GTF in Penang, Malaysia
SEA
35
Summary of SEA Creative Cities Network
Open to cities, organizations, institutes, civil groups
Not restricted to one area, focus includes software / IT, heritage,
crafts, architecture, urban development, product development, etc.
Focus on SECOND CITIES (cities that are not the capital of their
country)
Focus on Southeast Asia but seeking cooperation internationally
(Hong Kong, British Council)
36
37
A focus on medium sized cities that can learn from each other
http://urbact.eu/fileadmin/Projects/Creative_Clusters/
documents_media/URBACTCreativeClusters_TAP_INTELI
_Final.pdf
38
“Cities as Creative Hubs & Clusters”
-Why cities?
Great potential to
harness creativity
as an essential
element of socioeconomic and
cultural
development
Creativity and
culture integrated
into urban
planning and
regeneration
Appropriate scale
to bridge local and
international
opportunities for
creative industries
2nd cities as it easier to connect, greater similarities
and easier to make an impact at the city level
39
Connecting 2nd Cities in SE Asia
Each city is
unique, but there
is overlap in
interest areas
and greater
similarity
Organisation (public / private
education / civil sectors)
Creative Communities
Local practices & know-how
Networking experiences
And we all already have many international partners and
influences that we can share
DIVERSITY and
similarity - rich
ground for easier
cooperation
40
Initial “Signed” SEA CCN Members
41
MOU on the 2nd of August 2014
Memorandum of Understanding between Think City, GTF, Creative Chiang Mai, Bandung Creative
City Forum and Creative Cebu Council.
 Participating Entities in the Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network agree to work together to further the
following objectives:
 Establish a network of cooperation to advocate and develop the creative city in the Southeast Asian
region.
 Exchange ideas, expertise and resources to encourage the development of talent to support the future
development of the creative economy in Southeast Asian cities.
 Organize, host and develop advocacy programs to promote Southeast Asia as a destination for
investments to develop sustainable creative cities.
 Develop a common promotion, branding and marketing digital platform for creative economy players in
Southeast Asia.
 Jointly explore opportunities for funding, partnerships, and cooperation with other organization in
Southeast Asia and beyond.
 Embark on mutually agreed upon projects to catalyze greater cooperation amongst network members
with special reference to the creative economy in second cities (non-capital cities)
42
@ STeP
www.creativechiangmai.com
cmcc@creativechiangmai.com
43