Entrepreneurial capability? Understanding the resources needed for sustainable cultural and creative entrepreneurship in cities. A case study of Enschede, The Netherlands

What sustains creative and cultural entrepreneurship in a city? This paper questions the sustainability of urban policies focused on attracting knowledge-based human capital as a strategy to foster entrepreneurial and creative-driven growth. It acknowledges that the literature on entrepreneurial cities, while connecting with the creative city approach, has commonly imposed growth-led agendas without fully considering the local cultural infrastructure, including creative practices, amenities and the wider resources that enable citizen engagement. Using the capability approach, the paper considers what resources and opportunities are available, and to whom, within a specific urban location to facilitate sustainable creative and cultural entrepreneurship. Based on research conducted in the Dutch city of Enschede, we explore how resources for sustainable creative and entrepreneurial development are fostered at the local policy level. Drawing on qualitative data collected from a wide range of citizens; the paper questions the sustainability of policies focused on expanding higher education and the commercially oriented creative industries in order to foster regional entrepreneurial activity. We conclude that a better understanding of how citizens can be empowered to engage with the city's creative and cultural entrepreneurship might offer more fruitful and sustainable results. • Local government urban policy has concentrated on investment in cultural amenities and higher education infrastructure. • Has been successful in attracting human capital to foster entrepreneurial development but unsuccessful in retaining talent for long-term sustainability. • Research in a small-sized city in the Netherlands applies the capability approach to demonstrate wider range of citizens linked to entrepreneurial potential, demonstrating the need to focus on a wider range of resources. • Data from citizens within the city reveals lack of connectivity between policy funded infrastructure and wider creative ecosystem.