Scaling up networks for starving artists

Abstract

Creative industries development strategies have largely adopted a regionally embedded cluster platform to enhance the economic contribution of the sector. Such an isolated approach has done little to curb significant labour precarity and exploitation within the sector. Correspondingly, creative workers have sought to up-scale their networks, from local to global, to enhance their labour outcomes. This paper analyses the impact creative workers' up-scaled network arrangements on their labour outcomes. The research identifies significant policy implications concerning the support of up-scaled arrangements for economic segments that are vulnerable to labour precarity, such as the creative industries.