EU support to cultural and creative sectors
Creativity is a strategic and still underexploited resource for Europe. The main objective of EU action is to support cultural and creative sectors, which are knowledge and labour intensive, at the forefront of innovation and at the origin of spill-overs to other industries. They have shown that they can achieve above-average growth and create quality jobs - including for young people - while contributing to strengthening cultural diversity, social links and active citizenship. Facing worldwide competition, they are confronted with challenges that must be addressed at European level such as the lack of skills, finance, innovation and coordination.
EU policy support for cultural and creative sectors highlights the role of "Culture as a catalyst for innovation";
2012 Communication “Promoting cultural and creative sectors for growth and jobs in the EU” - setting the framework for a strategic approach towards the cultural and creative sectors (CCS)
Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018 (working groups of Member States’ experts on CCS’ access to finance, CCS entrepreneurship and innovation). OMC report on CCS access to finance.
2012-15 European Creative Industries Alliance – a policy initiative of the EC’s Enterprise Directorate General, financed under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. An open platform for policy-makers and business support practitioners from 28 partner organisations and 12 countries, 2013-14 @diversity, pilot project on the economy of cultural diversity, and new approaches to content for innovation, digital sharing and distribution. http://ec.europa.eu/culture/tools/economy-diversity_en.htm
2016-18 European Network of Creative Hubs – a project to reinforce networks of creative hubs at European level. http://creativeconomy.britishcouncil.org/blog/16/02/24/european-creative-hubs-network-innovative-models-s/
2016- Creative Tracks project to connect existing networks of young entrepreneurs active in CCS in Europe and the wider world. www.creativetracks.eu.
Culture for cities and regions (2015-2017), http://www.cultureforcitiesandregions.eu/ funded by Creative Europe is a peer-learning project aiming to examine existing cultural initiatives and their impact on local and regional development, including in relation to CCS.
The Creative Europe Loan Guarantee Facility was launched in June 2016to help European cultural and creative entrepreneurs to get easier access to bank loans. It is the first instrument of this kind for all CCS.
crowdfunding for the CCS (2016-2017) www.crowdfunding4culture.euis a pilot project aiming at collecting data on the crowdfunding market for CCS and reinforcing connections among crowdfunding communities.
The STARTS platform encourages synergies between the Arts and innovation for technolog
- recognition of the CCS as one of the most dynamic sectors of Europe's economy and a source of growth and employment
- better policy support for the CCS: enhancing skills, improving access to finance, promoting cross-fertilisation among sectors
- more efficient governance structures for culture and the CCS: reinforcing cooperation among policy makers and the industry but also across the CCIs to help developing creative ecosystems.
- better cross-sectoral collaboration leading to new innovative cultural product and services – better chances for artists and creators to unleash their potential
- active support for creative industries as a driver for competitiveness, job creation and structural change by developing and testing policies and tools. For more details see http://eciaplatform.eu/ and particular the final report of the European Creative Industries Alliance
Various.