CreatEU aims to support the development of relevant and high-quality competences of professionals working in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI onwards), but what are that kind of industries? Why it is necessary to support their development in Europe? Have CCI professionals any future in pandemic time?
The concept of the cultural and creative industry is not new, T. Adorno began using it in 1948 referring to the industrial reproduction techniques in the creation and diffusion of massive cultural works. However, it was in the ’90s when sprang up the concept of the creative economy which understand creativity as the motor of innovation, the technological change and as a comparative advantage for the development of business.
Nowadays, when we referred to Cultural and Creative Industries, we are talking about those sectors whose produce, reproduce, promote, and commercialize goods, services, and activities of cultural, artistic, or patrimonial content. Here some examples: record industry, film industry, publishing houses, theatre companies…Well, do you have the concept clear? Let’s see what role do CCI play in Europe.
CCI in the European Union
The cultural richness of the European Union is very remarkable, which makes us have a “good land” where the “seed” of the cultural and creative industries can grow; this favours employment and reinforces the feeling of community in Europe.
The synergy that exists between culture and economic development is unquestionable, since by promoting innovative actions related, for example, to cultural tourism, culturally rich areas can be revitalized, which, however, will experience difficulties in coming out of the economic decline.
In summary, the development of cultural industries contributes to the development of a more integrated Europe, where the identity of peoples and therefore the European identity is reinforced, CCI beings a means for economic promotion and job creation.
For all these reasons, it is important to revive the cultural demand, awakening in young people a true interest in culture, in this way, the expansion of cultural industries will be guaranteed by the existence of an ever-growing demand whose public would seek a message and a product that would be transmitted in a fluid, natural and sustainable way.
From CreatEU we will collaborate with the development and growth of Cultural and Creative Industries, and therefore, with the strengthening of Europe, through the reinforcement of the competences of creative professionals to enhance the sustainability and profitability of their activities.
What about the Covid-19 situation and CCI Industries?
As everybody knew, the pandemic situation that we are still living in has had and continues to have serious economic consequences. But, last summer, when the fall of tourism was catastrophic because of the impossibility of travelling, CCI industries arise by offering citizens the possibility of rediscovering their towns, cities, and countries. People started doing “local tourism”, not also because it was the unique possibility regarding the pandemic situation but also of a sense of solidarity who make people trying to help their cities, by visiting cultural sites, art exhibitions and museums, that they had always had in their cities but that perhaps they had not stopped to visit them.
In conclusion, we can all support the development of the CCI by being interested in this sector, which can generate so much employment, while helping the recovery and strengthening of Europe in this pandemic situation that we are experiencing.