Cultural and Creative Industries: Towards a more social Europe

Webinar

10 February 2023

By Platform

On 7 February, the Policy Learning Platform hosted the second episode of the Cultural and Creative Industries series, with a focus on sustainable and social impact.

During the webinar, we explored and discussed approaches and examples of how cultural and creative industries can contribute to a more sustainable way of living and generate social/non-market benefits:

Value or purpose-based entrepreneurship
Engagement of multiple and diverse communities
Valorisation of cultural heritage

Take a look at the webinar recording below and access the presentations and key learnings.

Webinar recording

Webinar agenda

Navigate to the topic of your interest

Concept and moderation by Luc Schmerber and Mart Veliste, Thematic Experts of SME competitiveness.

00:04:1 2 Introduction by Luc Schmerber on the topic of sustainable and social impact of the CCIs

Keynote speech

00:1 0:01 Keynote speech by Rasmus Wiinstedt Tscherning from the Creative Business Network on the impact of technology on CCIs, RCIA project

00:25 :22 Q&A: How do you differ from European Institute of Innovation & Technology?

00:27 :2 1 Q&A: When you worked with the creative businesses that you showcased, how do they see themselves? Do they see themselves as a creative business or a social business?

Panel discussion

00:3 4:24 Q&A: What are the challenges faced by cultural and creative industries in terms of achieving positive social impact?

00:4 1:40 Q&A: How can technology be leveraged for good in CCIs?

00:47:36 Q&A: How important is measuring the impact?

Good practice presentations

00:53:13 Presentation by Andrea Stegani, Valletta Design Cluster, on creative approaches generating a positive social impact, Design 4 Innovation project

01 :06:13 Q&A: Do you already have some experiences with new activities? What kind of buisnesses are developing?

01 :08:44 Q&A: Do you offer more dedicated support to start-ups such as coaching or additional funding?

01 :10:16 Q&A: Is the project running on public funding?

01:12:39 Presentation by Chiara Rossetto from Regione del Veneto and Federica Bosco from ETIFOR, on co-creating your musical itinerary in Padova, Cult-CreaTE project

Key learnings

Developing a sustainable economy or increasing well-being

Bringing together creative people and entrepreneurs have a strong potential to develop solutions for a more sustainable economy or increased well-being. Creative people have the power to push boundaries and mindsets. Creatives often come up with new innovative solutions to societal problems. Several examples from CCI businesses with a strong social purpose were displayed during the session.

Access to funding

While access to funding is perceived as a strong challenge for CCIs, it seems that funding is available in practice. Rather, CCIs suffer from a lack of awareness and capacity to reach out proactively for the right opportunities.

Digital technologies have the potential to leverage the impact of CCIs

Many businesses from the CCIs have business models which are the potential for global scale. Technologies can help them to go international (digitalisation of cultural content, accessibility through online platforms enabling them to reach new markets and target groups) or develop new opportunities for interactivity (interactive and immersive engagement of audiences). The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of acceleration for new products and services by providing an opportunity to experiment with digital technologies.

Diversity of stakeholders

The CCIs are characterised by a broad scope of activities and a strong diversity of stakeholders from different sectors; they are often acting on their own without coordination and strong linkages. Quite often, actors from the CCIs would not identify themselves as part of the sector, but rather use simpler terms like event management businesses. There is therefore a strong need for governance and coordination of public and private initiatives across sectors and organisations.

Measuring impact and non-market benefits

Making a positive social or environmental impact is increasingly important for businesses when looking for funding. Public and private investors are looking for businesses aiming at solving societal issues like health, mobility, poverty, etc.

However, if single businesses might be able to collect adequate data, it remains a challenge for policymakers to collect and get access to comparable data across regions on social impact and derivate indicators.