Hub Criativo do Beato- For whom by whom? : A narrative study of global entrepreneurial and creative urban practices in the eastern riverside of Lisbon

Abstract: This thesis investigates the phenomenon of creative hubs in former industrial sites based upon the case study of Hub Criativo do Beato and its process of implementation in Lisbon, Portugal. The hub is explored in relation to political-cultural power embedded in the practice of globalism and public-private partnership. The empirical study represents a common case of creative hubs, but also indicates of a unique aspect of implementation as the decision-making process is shown to bypass the municipal planning department. Conflicting narratives between the rhetoric of the intermediary actor StartUp Lisboa and local concerned are analysed by given value-and-power questions of Flyvbjerg (2002) in relation to globalisation, the creative economy and neo-liberalisation. Data is collected through interviews with actors representing different perspectives and interest to the eastern riverside. Findings shows that globalisation is in the eye of the intermediary manager of the project as an opportunity to accumulate investments and knowledge for the city. The local economic practitioners portray an already ongoing entrepreneurial and global processes in the eastern riverside, and present opposed wishes for governmental involvement within the entrepreneurial and creative practice. The conclusion draws attention to the principal concern of the creative discourse taken for granted in practise. In this case, narratives show that Hub Criativo do Beato is carried out mainly for the city to compete on the global arena, without greater concern for the local context, which resulted in missing great opportunities to deal with challenges and local participation in the planning approach to the eastern riverside of Lisbon.