Urban theory manifests as urban form

What I took most from this week’s exploration on urban space and culture is how urban theories can manifest itself in physical form and spatial formation. For example, the idea of the creative class from Richard Florida manifests physically as a space-making tool, which cities have advocated and implemented spatially as art districts that cater to the creative class. It seems to me that a fixation occurs on the spatial result and the ideal of an economic engine driver or if you will, a growth pole-like strategy.

Creative community in Berlin- leaves a mark on the urban form and creates community. 

Does it encompass and welcome everyone or only artists?

My question then is: does the artist class create economic development or rather does the artist class follow development? I believe it is difficult to say and is context specific. In regard to an artist development I visited and stayed in with a friend who is a writer and her husband a fashion designer, in Providence, Rhode Island (most artists per capita in the US), I witnessed a positive change in their family in that they were able to relocate themselves into a community that was plugged with other artists. Through their collaboration with on-site artists that live in the development they were able to provide artistic programmatic events for their community and non-artist as well as live in the studio they produce work. In this regard the creative class creates a community, but it is difficult to say that the artists actually integrate themselves into the existing urban fabric that was previously there.

Reference:

Florida, Richard and Gates, Gary. (2001). Technology and Tolerance: The importance of diversity to high-technology growth (Survey Series of the Brookings Institution). Washington, DC: Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy. http://www.urban.org/publications/1000492.html
Picture:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/creative%20community