ABSTRACT
In the information age the challenge for cities is to nourish the imagination of its citizens, the inner force. Economic prosperity and competitiveness depend not only upon a city’s links with the outside world through information technology and the transport infrastructure, but also on its capacity to build new business and exploit innovation. A city’s schools and universities play a central role because they generate intellectual capital, invigorate culture and feed ideas into the business community. At the same time, the arts and cultural scene of a city must be nurtured for it stimulates the imagination, and creates for the city an image and a reputation that will help to attract investment and talented individuals: great minds naturally gravitate towards environments that are vibrant and creative.
