Developing a cultural and creative industry strategy
On 20-21 November 2024, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a peer review for Amiens Métropole (France). The Region sought advice and inspiration on an economic development and innovation strategy for cultural and creative industries.
Amiens Métropole faces several challenges in structuring and dynamising the CCI sector. By applying to the Interreg Europe programme's Peer Review device, Amiens Métropole wants to draw inspiration from virtuous examples implemented by other European territories and capitalise on the recommendations of European experts.
Current state of affairs
For several years now, Amiens Métropole has been deploying an attractiveness strategy based on supporting the structuring and development of the territory's economic, innovation, research and cultural sectors of excellence. Several strategic documents structure this ambition, such as the Metropolitan Plan for Higher Education, Research and Innovation or the Metropolitan Plans for Structuring Artistic and Cultural Industries, focusing on the plastic and visual arts.
In the current political mandate (2021-2026), the co-construction process involving all stakeholders in Amiens Métropole territory already shows results. These documents constitute a roadmap that clarifies Amiens Métropole's position, particularly in its policy of supporting the implementation of projects in these sectors and encouraging local players to initiate partnership dynamics.
However, CCIs are not fully visible in these roadmaps. Thanks to a 2023 study on the economic and employment potential of the CCI sector within its territory, Amiens Métropole has decided to deploy a fully-fledged CCI innovation and economic development strategy.
Peers from across Europe
Alongside Luc Schmerber, Rene Tõnnisson and Antoine Duquennoy from the Policy Learning Platform, four highly committed peers from Austria and Italy participated in the peer review:
- Christina Koch, Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) / EIT Culture & Creativity, Austria
- Gisa Schosswohl, Kreativwirtschaft Austria
- Elena Mengotti, Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, Italy
- Silvia Poretta, Municipality of Bologna & University of Bologna, Italy
Over two days, the Peers learned about the strategies and initiatives already in place and shared their experiences in an intensive and dynamic exchange with the host region and the local stakeholders fully engaged in the exchange process. Jointly, the participants elaborated and discussed tailor-made policy recommendations on how to address the policy challenges faced by our beneficiary.
Key recommendations
There is a need for a coordinator/agent to coordinate, translate, and mediate between actors (CCIs, administration, policymakers) -someone who speaks up for CCIs. However, the coordinator is not a boss, it is an actor among others. This is usually the policy owner (often the one providing the monetary support) as it is the most suitable organisation. All relevant AND interested stakeholders should be involved in a bottom-up and participatory / co-creation approach in the governance of the ecosystem.
When drafting an action plan, it should be
- Very specific
- Foresee a few actions
- Periodically revised
- Include a clear vision of a timeframe and the allocated funding.
How to put CCIs at the service of growth and development in other economic sectors.
- Expand the notion of „innovation“ beyond digital or technical innovations. Artistic and social innovation are also important, including in economic terms.
- Raise awareness of the potential of CCIs
- Sensitize traditional sectors on creative skills and competencies - Create chances for CCIs to talk with traditional industries
- Test new methods and formats to stimulate dialogue between traditional economic sectors and CCI or creative professionals to trigger innovation and creative spillovers
- Speed up cooperation between sectors with financial support (at least at the beginning). Offer low threshold (e.g. vouchers) funding as a kick starter.
- Offer also physical space for experiments. Facilitation and coordination is needed
For talents and companies but also make CCIs one of the pillars of the territory's tourism strategy.
- Measure the impact of culture on the economy. BUT DO NOT consider only economic impact (consider also well-being, attractiveness, …) – transformation processes are long and multi-dimensional.
- Promote the link between cultural attraction and CCIs.
- Support cooperation between cultural heritage and CCIs.
The host’s policy challenges, and all the peer suggestions are available in the follow-up report below.
Final report - Amiens Métropole.pdf
Peer review publication
Find more information on the methodology and experiences of previous beneficiaries in our publication.
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