Universities and regional creative economies

Universities play a prominent role in the promotion of innovation and creative clusters and in the growth of local and global economies. Yet, the specific role that universities play in regional creative economies of non-metropolitan areas requires further attention for three reasons. First, university campuses are often distributed in a more decentralised way than the arts and creative industries, with public policy concerns about the equitable distribution of learning opportunities being a key factor. Second, many regional universities have established themselves as global leaders in particular fields. Third, there is a global turn towards regionalism and identifying opportunities to develop distinctive regional creative economies, particularly as creative people themselves relocate from urban centres to regional environments. This chapter expands on these ideas through three case studies which examine the relationships between universities and culture and creativity in regional Australia, with regards to knowledge exchange, program delivery and evaluation. They demonstrate the significance of university and regional arts collaborations for innovation and sustainability in the regional arts sector and raise considerations around the contribution universities may make in realising creative futures in regional communities.