Creator spaces York: Negotiating economic impact and social value

Abstract

First paragraph: Independent creative industries workers increasingly struggle to secure affordable professional workspaces (Salamon, 2025). In the digital era these workers face not only financial pressures but also limited access to essential training and networking opportunities. Despite claims that digitalisation renders creative work placeless, physical space and faceto-face social interaction remain critical to creative industries (Evans, 2009). Research indicates that creative workers in areas like Yorkshire often encounter significant barriers to developing their professional skills and networks within their region (Salamon, 2025). In response, scholars and policymakers have called for establishing regional public creator hubs—or “neighbourhood-based Creator Spaces” (Florida, 2022, p. 28). Such spaces would offer accessible and community-focused environments for professional development.