From Industrial City to the Creative City: Development Policy Challenges and Liepaja Case

The paper analyses industrial city's economic development during the 19th century and its policy, which still today has influence on the city's processes in politics, economics, social and urban development. Like with other industrial cities, Liepaja's success started in the beginning of the 19th century with the abolition of serfdom in Russian Empire. It allowed free people movement and increased the population of the city. Next wave for the city's rapid development was the railway installation. The railway, the harbour and free access to the human resources provided industrial city's advancement during the second half of the 19th century and it provided a basis for the development of nowadays Liepaja. Liepaja's harbour and industry are still playing an important role in its economic development. However, currently the number of the population is decreasing and Liepaja city has one of the highest unemployment rates in Latvia. The Paper is studying: “Liepaja's economic development policy changes, challenges and issues converting from industrial city to the city whose economic development relies on different aspects not only traditional industry”, “Liepaja's creative economy, societal changes from worker class to creative class to rebuild economy”, “Liepaja's creative policy, actions and place making process to develop creative economy, creative industries, creative professions and creative places. The result of the study will be recommendations for creative city economics policy implementation and creative place making process in local municipality.”