One Creative Class does not fit all! A case study of a Belgian region

Abstract

2 Creativity and innovation are vital components for organisations and cities to thrive. Richard Florida 3 proposed a framework for regional development, putting creative individuals (the 'Creative Class') at the 4 centre and linking them with three key elements for success, namely talent, technology and tolerance (the 5 3Ts). Used by policymakers around the world to develop their regional strategy, the importance of this 6 group of creative individuals cannot be underestimated. Understanding them will help attracting them, 7 which will contribute to regional development. However, knowledge on their characteristics, differences, 8 and perceptions is lacking. Therefore, this study researches the Creative Class, gathering insights on their 9 backgrounds and asking about their satisfaction and perceptions of the 3Ts. Through an online survey 10 in Qualtrics targeting people working in creative occupations in Limburg, Belgium, this study examines 11 possible correlations between intrapreneurship, satisfaction with the job or region and the 3Ts using 12 Spearman's rank-order correlation. Next, this research offers new insights into how different demographic 13 and professional subgroups perceive the 3Ts through running T-tests, ANOVA and their non-parametric 14 equivalents. All analyses were run in SPSS. Quantitative analyses reveal correlations and differences in 15 personal and work contexts linked to differences in perceptions of the 3Ts. Through this comprehensive 16 analysis, a deeper understanding of the interplay between creativity, personal backgrounds, and individual 17 perceptions of the expanded 3T model is achieved. The results highlight the importance of measuring the 18 3Ts through personal perceptions, revealing distinct differences within the Creative Class. Acknowledging 19 the diversity of the Creative Class, this research aims to show how individual backgrounds and job context 20 may shape perceptions of the expanded 3T framework. By showing their impact on the 3Ts, this study 21 emphasises the value of incorporating personal and work context measures when examining the Creative 22 Class. 23