SUSTAINING PLACE IDENTITY IN CULTURAL AND CREATIVE CLUSTERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Cultural and Creative Clusters (CCCs) are increasingly recognized as arenas of urban innovation, cultural transmission, and social transformation. Yet, existing research has often underplayed the role of Place Identity (PI) in sustaining cultural continuity and supporting innovative ecosystems, thereby limiting the scope of scholarly perspectives. To address this gap, this study conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 checklist, screening 218 publications from 2021 to 2025 and selecting 23 representative articles that capture the latest advances in PI–CCC scholarship. Scientometric analysis examined publication years, geographic distribution, meth-odological approaches, regional types, and key concepts, while thematic analysis identified core research dimensions and thematic orientations. The findings reveal that PI is constituted through three interdependent dimensions, Material, Experiential, and Constructive, that are dynamically articulated in an “Anchored, Felt, and Redefined” coupling process. Comparative analysis further highlights operational mechanisms that stabilize or undermine PI, including governance strategies, heritage preservation and authenticity, accessibility and everyday practices, aesthetic–authenticity relations, image-led renewal, and sensory environments. By consolidating these insights, the study offers a reusable theoretical and methodological toolbox spanning conceptual integration, ana-lytical paradigms, and governance applications, thereby advancing a more systematic and nuanced understanding of PI in CCCs.