At the Creative Cities Summit last week in Lexington, Charles Landry, author of The Creative City, argued that cities must be places of anchor, possibility, connection/re-connection, inspiration, and learning.
Anchor: there has to be a solid infrastructure of basic services and a sense of order, he said. That foundation allows cities to take risks, to be more open to new ideas and new people, and even to explore the power of whimsy.
That’s a key component of Louisville’s momentum – the truth behind the branding slogan “Possibility City” and why it resonates. Even during challenging times like the present, overall, the city works.
Possibility itself is another quality on Landry’s list. He defined it as people believing that the city creates an environment where ideas can thrive and it is possible to build momentum and make things happen. If not in “Possibility City,” then where?
Connection/Re-connection: the city must pull people out of their homes and bring them together. There must be places where people want to go to meet up and connect with other people. Think Waterfront Park, Farmers Markets, East Market Street galleries, Bardstown Road and Frankfort Avenue – just for starters. The slogan “Keep Louisville Weird” really means keep it local and distinctive – and a place where people interact readily and easily.
Inspiration: Landry ties this quality to leadership. A creative city needs inspirational leadership. People want to believe in their city, he says, and be proud of it. This is an interesting issue as we head into the mayoral primary and general election, coming out of a period of unusual continuity in local elected leadership.
Learning: creative cities offer multiple avenues and venues for learning, including everything from museums to community gardening classes – the more the merrier.
Assessments of how well Louisville ranks on these criteria probably vary widely. Do young professionals find enough places to connect? Do West Louisville residents think we have a solid anchor? Do budding entrepreneurs experience Louisville as a true city of possibility?
Judged against these qualities, does Louisville rank as a creative city?