Culture Matters

17 March 2023

There is immense intrinsic value to culture, often unquantifiable within the bounds of extrinsic economic outputs and numerations. However, culture also has its own set of internal values, which contribute further to its external value creation. While the EU remains dedicated to the community-based values ​​of civil rights, freedom, human dignity, justice, equality and democracy, culture has the power to convey these abstract values, communicating them to EU citizens, as well as to the outside world. Beyond passive transmission, culture’s real power is demonstrated through active participation, which has the potential to mobilize citizens and stimulate civic debate. Culture opens minds by showing alternative perspectives and at the same time empowers individuals and communities by strengthening their democratic skills. Grassroots cultural activities, civil society engagement and socio-cultural operations are key in this respect. Culture is therefore capable of preparing EU citizens to support and shape the future of Europe.

Beyond the intrinsic value of and values ​​of culture, cultural activities make a significant contribution to employment and EU-wide and national GDPs. For example, according to the European Commission statistical office, Eurostat Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) activities accounted for nearly 3.7% of EU employment in 2015 (8.4 million), more than the automotive industry, and 29.5 million worldwide (1% of the active population). These activities contribute 4.2% to EU GDP. Since the CCIs encompass cultural values, as well as artistic and other individual or collective creative expressions, the industry benefits from value creation that extends beyond the production and dissemination stages of industrial and manufacturing operations. As for the CCS, the sector has shown strong value-added numbers through the creative and cultural stages of production. At the EU level, the CCS account for EUR 413 billion in terms of value-added (5.5%). Over the period 2013 to 2017, the value added produced by the CCS generated a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The main driver of this growth is the Audio-Visual and Multimedia (AVM) subsector which makes up 2.5% of the EU’s overall figure. Additionally, employment in the CCS and the number of CCS companies have grown steadily at above 4.5% CAGR since 2013. In 2021, there were 7.4 million people in cultural employment across the EU. The main driver of this growth is the Audio-Visual and Multimedia (AVM) subsector which makes up 2.5% of the EU’s overall figure. Additionally, employment in the CCS and the number of CCS companies have grown steadily at above 4.5% CAGR since 2013. In 2021, there were 7.4 million people in cultural employment across the EU. The main driver of this growth is the Audio-Visual and Multimedia (AVM) subsector which makes up 2.5% of the EU’s overall figure. Additionally, employment in the CCS and the number of CCS companies have grown steadily at above 4.5% CAGR since 2013. In 2021, there were 7.4 million people in cultural employment across the EU.

CCS, CCI, ITCS & CI, Oh My!

10 March 2023

It can get confusing trying to define exactly what all the parts of the cultural and creative ecosystem are, especially when there are so many acronyms floating around, all of them different, yet still related. One of the biggest distinctions to make is between the cultural and creative sectors (CCSs) and the cultural and creative industries (CCIs). CCSs include sectors whose activities are based on cultural, artistic or creative values. The activities may include the development, creation, production, dissemination or preservation of goods and services which embody cultural, artistic, or other creative expressions.CCIs on the other hand refer to those parts of the modern economy where culture is produced and distributed through industrial means, applying the creativity of individuals and groups to the generation of original cultural products.

There are some fundamental principles that define the CCS and make them different from CCIs. Notably, we can identify the CCS as the resource center for CCI, making the relationship between the two symbiotic rather than oppositional or competitive. CCSs, however, have many intangible, social and non-economic outputs which remain undervalued and invisible, unlike the CCI, which means that quantifying the value of the CCS is often difficult.

Sticking to Culture and Creativity

3 March 2023

“Cultural and creative sectors are important for ensuring the continued development of societies and are at the heart of the creative economy. Knowledge-intensive and based on individual creativity and talent, they generate considerable economic wealth. More importantly, they are critical to a shared sense of European identity, culture and values. In economic terms, they show above-average growth and create jobs – particularly for young people – while strengthening social cohesion.“ – Creative & Cultural Sector, EC

Cultural and creative sectors include all sectors whose activities are based on cultural values ​​​​or artistic and creative expressions. Essentially, CCSs have an impact on every part of human expression, including education, health and notions of community. Over the past few years, more and more evidence-based analyzes have shown us the importance of CCSs in our economy. 

For example, CCSs are an integral part of the experience economy and tourism, as cultural tourism is estimated to account for up to 40% of European tourism ( KEA ). Tourism is a great example of the “stickiness” of the CCSs. Some cultural practices or products can “stick” to a geographic location, population or community. For example, many regions across Europe have their own specific traditions in terms of food, arts, and tangible or intangible heritage which are location-specific. These include the Pyramids of Egypt, the artisanal know-how and culture of baguette-making in France, Inuit drum dancing and singing in Denmark, as well as numerous other products and practices. 

This “stickiness” adds cultural value, enhancing identity, ownership, and other forms of social cohesion. Italy, for example, is home to the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites, claiming 58 out of the 1,145. In this case, Italy benefits from the tourism that comes with caring for, maintaining and preserving these sites. These sites, when preserved and maintained by Italian regional and national governments, add to the value of each “cultural product,” extending beyond economic value and fostering a shared global heritage that belongs to everyone.