The Role of Place on Creative Clustering: The Film Industry Clusters in Soho and Beyoglu

Abstract

The research explores the factors affecting the clustering of creative activities and types in specific parts of the cities. In particularly it focuses on the role of location and place on attracting and retaining the creative types (i.e. film companies and film people). It aims to understand the value of place for creative clustering in the information age in relation to the theories of non-place urban realm, death of distance, placelessness, and spaces of flow. This exploratory, cross-national case study is conducted in Soho of London and Beyoglu of Istanbul which can be named as inner-city film industry-based creative clusters. The study applies qualitative research techniques such as semi-structured interviews, direct observations based on urban experience and cognitive and cluster mapping. The research concludes that there are three main factors affecting creative clustering such as economics of clustering, location and quality of place and place-based social interaction which are crucial for creativity, competitiveness and distinctiveness for the twentyfirst century new economy.