Ireland on cusp of 'creative age', says culture guru

Ireland, and Dublin, is well placed to capitalise on the "creative age" and become a "truly creative sustainable society" because of the advancement of social partnership here, according to American sociology guru Prof Richard Florida.

Addressing an audience gathered by the Dublin Regional Authority and the Dublin Employment Pact, he said that creativity rather than manufacturing or services had now become the driving force of economic growth in developed countries.

Author of influential books such as The Rise of the Creative Class,Prof Florida said the ability to compete depended on cities being able to attract, retain and develop creative people. "Instead of people moving to jobs, jobs are now moving to people," he added.

The key to a city's ability to thrive in the creative age rested on its openness to "the three Ts" - embracing technology, tolerance of diversity and promotion of talent. "Places with a higher proportion of creative workers thrive while those with less stagnate."

Prof Florida, who now directs the Prosperity Institute in Toronto, said wealth was "no longer about how big your factories are, but about your ability to create new ideas - not just physical products, but in areas like arts, culture and entertainment".

He defines the creative sector of the economy as including science, technology, the arts, culture, design and the professions.

"You can never underestimate the role of the 'bohemian factor' in economic growth . . . that's where new ideas are coming from," he said.

Prof Florida said the challenge now was to build social cohesion, based on creativity and involving minorities, including immigrants. In his view, the most successful cities are built on "ordered chaos" rather than social compliance.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley agreed, quoting American writer Mark Helprin: "a tranquil city of good laws, fine architecture and clean streets is like a classroom of obedient dullards, or a field of gelded bulls - whereas a city of anarchy is a city of promise".

Emphasising that he was not advocating dirty streets or poor architecture, Mr Gormley said Dublin "needs a directly-elected mayor to unleash the city's creativity and he said this was "definitely going to happen in 2011".