Innovation in informal creative industries: The case of Indonesia's creative kampongs

In many Global South countries, creative industries (CIs) are found intersecting with informal settlements. In Indonesia, this is particularly visible in the creative urban villages (kampongs). This paper aims to identify the innovation processes (both technical and systemic innovations) undertaken by CIs operating from these creative kampongs. Using a comparative study in two creative kampongs with different creative identities and communities, we found the presence of incremental and pragmatic innovation influenced by the conditions of informality and the impact of the limitation of resources faced by CIs in these areas. Our findings particularly emphasise aspects of knowledge production and the innovation process of CIs in the kampongs. The paper contributes to understanding the importance of actor-networks and the emergence of technology that allows informal businesses to innovate their products and services. It also contributes to reflect on the role of kampong as a shared space in which communal spirit expedite knowledge production and identity for CIs.