Promoting the cultural and creative sectors: from culture to jobs, there is only one step

Architecture, arts and crafts, cultural heritage, design, festivals, film, television, music, visual arts, performing arts, archives, libraries, publishing, radio and even more: all these activities form part of the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). They are composed of a patchwork of organisations of very different sizes, operating in various fields and, according to a study on European competitiveness from 2010, they account for up to 4.5% of GDP and 8.5 million jobs in the European Union.

Europe's cultural diversity and creativity - contributors to innovation, value and job creation

These sectors play a major role as catalysts for and disseminators of innovation, the beneficial effects of which are not limited to the cultural and creative spheres but also extend to numerous other sectors of the economy.

They are the ambassadors of a dynamic Europe, of Europe’s cultural diversity and creativity.

But they are not only about culture. They also create value and jobs – usually not susceptible to relocation. They make a genuine contribution to societal value.

This week, the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee will vote on Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid’s Report on Promoting cultural and creative sectors as sources of economic growth and jobs.

In this report, Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid calls on the European Union to take measures to support and improve access to funding, to broaden the market and to increase the international and transsectoral scope of cultural and creative sectors.

Recent and reliable statistics are necessary

First, Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid underlines the need for a precise definition of these sectors as well as reliable statistics, pre-conditions to creating the appropriate European tools for adequately responding to the sectors’ needs. She also calls on the European Commission to have a structured political line and to set out concrete solutions, in line with all stakeholders from these sectors.

The importance of education and training

The MEP underlines in her report that artistic and cultural education contributes to equality of opportunities.

She calls for more synergy between business and education and proposes the creation of a platform for exchange and creating alliances and partnerships with a view to improving the competitiveness of these sectors, as the CCS have a leverage effect which is connected to skills.

In her view, cultural access and education should be provided from an early age.

Funding for the cultural and creative sectors

Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid calls on the European Commission and the Member States to recognise that access to funding for these sectors is a major concern. A favourable regulatory and tax framework should therefore be set up and all the relevant tools and programmes should be used to ensure that the CCS can access funding more easily via these instruments. New funding models and ways to support them should also be identified, particularly as all creative work involves risk-taking. Europe must encourage investors to support the CCS.

The challenges

Sanchez-Schmid does not deny that the challenges need to be turned into new opportunities for growth and jobs, and calls for both new tools to be developed and existing tools to be improved so that the cultural and creative sectors cope better with the transition to digital and with globalisation. It is essential to protect intellectual property and to develop tools to protect Europe’s ‘cultural exception’ in terms of exports and internationalisation. The CCS should be encouraged to explore and reinforce their presence in international markets, including through the development of international partnerships and cooperation with non-EU countries.

Local and regional development

In Mrs Sanchez-Schmid’s view, the CCS help to promote culture and regions; she encourages the Member States – and through them the local authorities – to promote and support these sectors, which have a varied and effective impact throughout the EU. The multidimensional ecosystem of these sectors needs to be taken into account, and networks for exchanging experience should be developed to strengthen links between cities, culture, creativity and the economy.

The cultural and creative sectors clearly help to stimulate growth and create jobs.

For Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, it is essential that the politicians concerned will, in organisational terms, work together in as broad as possible a consensus to refocus Europe on creativity and culture to better prepare us for the new challenges ahead in a globalised world.

What's next?

This week, her report on Promoting cultural and creative sectors as sources of economic growth and jobs will be put to the vote in European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education. A vote in plenary is currently schedule for Parliament's plenary session in October.