Chiang Mai Creative City
Encyclopedia
Chiang Mai Creative City Chiang Mai Creative City is an initiative to develop Chiang Mai into a Creative City. A Creative City is a city where cultural and creative activities are an integral part of the city's economic and social functioning. The experience of other cities which have implemented such strategies has shown that they can be more successful (with meeting their development objectives) than cities which have not.
The initiative covers creative clusters but also other issues such as urban development, education, R&D and innovation
and collaboration. Some of the involved stakeholders put emphasis on the IT, software and digital content sector - since it is an important growth sector and an enabler for other sectors. Moroever, this sector also has a high potential for generating spillover effects, creating value-added, and attracting additional investment.
Existing key sectors such as tourism (e.g. medical tourism
, cultural tourism, historical tourism), handicrafts (jewellry, silverware, celadon
and other forms of pottery, textile, etc.), food/agro-industry, and healthcare are also targeted and can be upgraded using new designs, processes, IT, (technology based) innovation, and creative thinking.
, the president of Chiang Mai University
, the president of Payap University
, the president of North Chiang Mai University
, and the US Consul General are advisors.
The Development Committee organised several activities such as a logo and website design competition and a seminar on how to develop a creative city with a guest speaker from Austin. One of the next events is with guest speaker from UNESCO
to discuss how Chiang Mai could be become a UNESCO recognised Creative City.
The objective of the Development Committee are to develop a roadmap and strategy for Chiang Mai Creative City, coordinate and share information across stakeholders, coordinate and govern projects, implement and operate activities and projects, set up working committees and working teams as required.
Chiang Mai University was nominated to chair the Development Committee and to provide the secretariat and point of contact. At the present staff is allocated on a part-time and voluntary basis (by CMU).
The Development Committee is not a legal entity, but relies on its formal and informal members to support and work together. Longer-term, the Development Committee may need to institutionally developed further and become a legal entity, but is premature to conclude this now. The way of working of the Development Committee is on a consensus but also voluntary basis. This means that the Development Committee can suggest policies, projects, and activities (and if asked coordinate and govern these), but it is up to the members to implement these (and provide resources).
The vision may include the following aspects:
“Chiang Mai will become a recognised centre for IT, digital content, and other creative sectors, activities and talent. Technology, design, creative thinking and innovation support existing key industries as well as the social, environmental and economic objectives of the city, province and people. It is attractive as a place for living, investing, retiring, visiting, studying and working.”
The mission of the Chiang Mai Creative City initiative includes
The initiative covers creative clusters but also other issues such as urban development, education, R&D and innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
and collaboration. Some of the involved stakeholders put emphasis on the IT, software and digital content sector - since it is an important growth sector and an enabler for other sectors. Moroever, this sector also has a high potential for generating spillover effects, creating value-added, and attracting additional investment.
Existing key sectors such as tourism (e.g. medical tourism
Medical tourism
Medical tourism is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care...
, cultural tourism, historical tourism), handicrafts (jewellry, silverware, celadon
Celadon
Celadon is a term for ceramics denoting both a type of glaze and a ware of a specific color, also called celadon. This type of ware was invented in ancient China, such as in the Zhejiang province...
and other forms of pottery, textile, etc.), food/agro-industry, and healthcare are also targeted and can be upgraded using new designs, processes, IT, (technology based) innovation, and creative thinking.
Background
The Chiang Mai Creative City Development Committee was set up by the Governor of Chiang Mai and consists of members from the education, private and government sectors. The Governor of Chiang Mai ProvinceChiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai is the second-largest province of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, and Mae Hong Son. In the north it borders Shan State of Burma...
, the president of Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
, the president of Payap University
Payap University
Payap University established in 1974, is a private institution founded by the Church of Christ in Thailand. Payap is a founding member of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Thailand, and an active member of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia, as...
, the president of North Chiang Mai University
North Chiang Mai University
North Chiang Mai University is a private university in Chiang Mai, Thailand founded in 1999....
, and the US Consul General are advisors.
The Development Committee organised several activities such as a logo and website design competition and a seminar on how to develop a creative city with a guest speaker from Austin. One of the next events is with guest speaker from UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
to discuss how Chiang Mai could be become a UNESCO recognised Creative City.
The objective of the Development Committee are to develop a roadmap and strategy for Chiang Mai Creative City, coordinate and share information across stakeholders, coordinate and govern projects, implement and operate activities and projects, set up working committees and working teams as required.
Chiang Mai University was nominated to chair the Development Committee and to provide the secretariat and point of contact. At the present staff is allocated on a part-time and voluntary basis (by CMU).
The Development Committee is not a legal entity, but relies on its formal and informal members to support and work together. Longer-term, the Development Committee may need to institutionally developed further and become a legal entity, but is premature to conclude this now. The way of working of the Development Committee is on a consensus but also voluntary basis. This means that the Development Committee can suggest policies, projects, and activities (and if asked coordinate and govern these), but it is up to the members to implement these (and provide resources).
Vision and Mission
The timeframe for Chiang Mai Creative City needs to be long-term (15-20 years). Medium-term, the vision and objectives should align with Thailand’s next national social and economic development plan (2012-2016), which will have a strong emphasis on creativity, creative economy, knowledge and innovation. Creative industries comprise 13% of total GDP (2009) and the government intends to increase this to at least 20%. Chiang Mai has an opportunity to take a significant share of this growth.The vision may include the following aspects:
“Chiang Mai will become a recognised centre for IT, digital content, and other creative sectors, activities and talent. Technology, design, creative thinking and innovation support existing key industries as well as the social, environmental and economic objectives of the city, province and people. It is attractive as a place for living, investing, retiring, visiting, studying and working.”
The mission of the Chiang Mai Creative City initiative includes
- Developing talent to better meet the needs of industry and society
- Marketing Chiang Mai as an attractive location for investment and business
- Developing the creative industries in Chiang Mai, including IT, software and digital content cluster – leverage to develop existing industries
- Develop city into a stronger growth engine and service hub for the rest of Northern Thailand
- Creating more business opportunities and jobs
- Promoting creativity (creative thinking, innovation, etc.) at all levels
- Ensuring that Chiang Mai’s historic and cultural heritage are preserved and that development is sustainable
- Embracing and creating benefits for all key stakeholders groups
External links
- Article in Chiang Mai City Life Magazine: http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3065
- Chiang Mai Creative City Conference with guest speaker from Austin: http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/programs_and_events/2010/chiang-mai-creative-city.html
- Facebook Chiang Mai Creative City Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/cheiynghim-meuxng-srangsrrkh-Chiang-Mai-Creative-City/108711162509333
- Facebook Chiang Mai Creative City Group Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129948923694602
- US Consulate General in Chiang Mai Creative Chiang Mai Creative City Conference: http://www.buyusa.gov/thailand/en/ceconf.html
- US Consulate General in Chiang Mai Northern Thailand's Creative Economy Conference: http://www.buyusa.gov/thailand/en/cec.html
- OpenChiang Mai Video Clip from Chiang Mai Creative City Logo and Website Design Competition: http://www.openchiangmai.com/v2582.html
- Chiang Mai Mail (Newspaper) Coverage: http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/396/community.shtml#hd1
- City of Chiang Mai (English)
- City of Chiang Mai (Thai)