Materiality and Creative Production: The Case of the Mile End Neighborhood in Montréal

Abstract

Recent studies on the economic significance of creativity have emphasized the role that quality of life plays in attracting talent to cities. In these studies, quality of life is seen in terms of its role in enhancing consumption. In this paper we build on a corpus of literature that considers how quality of life attributes can enhance creative production. On the basis of a study of fashion and graphic designers in Montréal, we consider the role played by material factors, such as loft-style buildings, low-cost rents, mixed-use zoning, and public space, in nurturing and supporting creativity in one of Montréal's off-beat neighborhoods. We argue that these conditions cultivate creative production by enabling a set of artistic practices and diverse encounters.