22. Creative Industries and Neighbourhood Change in South African Cities

Creative industries have been used globally as a lever for economic development and urban regeneration. Despite the benefits of creative industries to stimulate urban regeneration, widespread criticism points to the negative impacts of socioeconomic polarisation and gentrification in urban environments. There is evidence of a growing creative economy in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa’s two largest cities. Over the past two decades, both cities have embarked on various urban regeneration initiatives. Inner city Cape Town in particular shows evidence of the use of creative industries as a tool for widespread regeneration. In Johannesburg, the majority of creative industries are located in its northern suburbs; however, in recent years there is evidence of creative clusters emerging in central Johannesburg. This chapter reviews research and debates on creative industries in Woodstock (Cape Town) and Maboneng (Johannesburg), and illustrates the impacts of creative industries on neighbourhood change in the South African urban context.