CREATIVE CLUSTERS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC - STRATEGY FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT OR FASHIONABLE CONCEPT?

In an era of globalization and increasing competition among cities, creative industries are gaining greater attention as a catalyst for local and regional development. This is reflected in the theory of Richard Florida, which was accepted after 2002 by professionals in the field of urban planning, especially in North America and Western Europe, but critically analyzed by the academic community in the field of urban and regional development for its insufficient empirical evidence. Creative industries might be fostered through clusters that are widely accepted as concepts for improving the economic efficiency of regions. This paper introduces the concept of creative clusters into discussions by Czech geographers, while analysing the pioneer project-led development of an Audiovisual Cluster in the Zlin Region, and the possible transfer of the creative clusters concept to other Czech regions.