Beyond the Cluster: Creative Clusters as an Instrument for Inclusive Innovation

Creative clusters have been presented as a catalyst for regional growth in economies across the world. Traditional cluster research has largely focused its attention on describing the way clusters function as networks of affinity, supported by informal connections between individuals and organisations within a geographic area or subsector. Although a few key studies have noted the potentially exclusionary consequences of this, the benefit of clusters for historically marginalised groups remains under-researched. This thesis argues that, whilst overall economic growth may be achieved by cluster programmes, it is potentially at the expense of those already under-represented in the creative industries.

This thesis explores the lifecycle of the StoryFutures cluster, part of the UK’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme focused on immersive technology and storytelling. The study takes an action research approach to identify where in the production chain diverse voices flourish and where they fall away and attempts to understand how the micro-processes of inclusion and exclusion occur. As an action researcher and Head of Inclusion for StoryTrails, one of StoryFutures’ largest projects, the author describes how the cluster became a dynamic catalyst for inclusive growth. The StoryTrails project set out to use immersive technology to tell the stories of underrepresented communities and provide cohesion through ‘emotional mapping’ and place-based storytelling. The findings suggest that a focus on cognitive proximity can have significant effects on inclusion. Further research in this area could lead to positive outcomes for the diversity of regional creative economies and the wider sector.

The university’s role as a cultural intermediary is also discussed, as findings show that high-quality institutional support is pivotal in delivering inclusive innovation programmes. The author proposes a reframing of cluster programmes, moving away from the Porterian conceptualisation of clusters as naturalised ‘organic’ entities, towards an action-based view of clusters as a ‘synthetic’ social technology with a clear remit to deliver wider benefits to the regional economy.