A creative city is a better place in which to live, work and play. It is a city that appreciates the advantage of investing in entrepreneurship and innovation.

The main aim of Creative Cities – an international project that the British Council launched in the spring of 2008 – is to give young, influential people the tools to transform their cities into better places.

The project is arranged with partners in various private and public organisations and European cities who understand that innovation is the basis of sustainable development in the modern world.

The project aims to find one or two cities in the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia that have the potential to become creative cities.

The young people will receive leadership and entrepreneurial training, and will acquire the knowledge and skills to enable them to participate in making decisions about public spaces, contributing to arts and social activities and influencing policies that bring more business to the city. Activities will consist of a Future City Game to assist with city planning, an Urban Ideas Bakery with a group of experts in a mobile office travelling from city to city, and education programme on knowledge economies.

Throughout their involvement, cities will be able to establish a competitive advantage for themselves and attract creative talent to contribute to their cities’ future economic growth.

Creative Cities - Successful in Sweden

In mid-December the first Future City Game was held in Sweden. In partnership with KaosPiloterna, 25 people from local council, business and the community met for two important days to discuss Orminge Centrum and its future transformation. Over 40 ideas were generated and handed over to Nacka Kommun. Read the full report here. Read article in Nacka Värmdö Posten here

For further information contact:

Ki Andersson, British Council Sweden.