Reframing creativity in the city: on the emergence of contemporary township creativity

Abstract

This paper offers a provocation for reframing the spatiality of urban creativity by interrogating the groundswell of contemporary creativity in South African townships. Creativity in marginalised neighbourhoods such as townships does not fit dominant creative city narratives and global city aspirations. The literature is largely silent about creative work and spaces characterised by informality. This paper draws on critical urbanism emphasising the ‘ordinary’ and ‘informal’ to reinforce urban theory based on the neglected realities of Global South cities. The roles of tourism and actors in township creativity are examined and associated risks, vulnerabilities and potentialities are also considered.