Reimagining the creative industries in the community arts sector

Abstract

In creative industries research, there is now recognition that promoting economic growth through the creative economy has environmental and social consequences, suggesting the need for more holistic frameworks to conceptualize the potentials and limits of these industries. This article turns to the community youth arts sector in order to investigate its working practices and assess what mainstream creative industries might learn from this sector about inclusion. The “Community Youth Arts Programs as Creative Industries Incubators” research project examined mechanisms through which youth arts organizations incubate creativity and assist youth in navigating the entry-level phase of creative work. In these organizations, an inclusive environment is enabled by anti-oppressive practice (AOP) and attention to pedagogical practice, characteristics that could inform the mainstream creative industries working environment to enable more sustainable and more equitable livelihoods.