Pioneering minds worldwide

The creative and cultural industries sector is a fast-expanding and economically strong one. Within the recent economic crisis the Cultural and Creative Industries are gaining interest. The European Commission is dedicated to unlock its full potential. The European model makes a distinction between 'cultural' and 'creative' industries.  The 'cultural sector' covers non-industrial sectors producing non-reproducible goods and services aimed at being 'consumed' on the spot (a concert, an art fair, an exhibition) and the arts (including but not limited to visual arts; performing and heritage). It also includes industrial sectors, producing cultural products aimed at mass reproduction, mass-dissemination and exports. In the 'creative sector' culture becomes a 'creative' input in the production of non-cultural goods, such as design, architecture, and advertising. Creativity is perceived in this study as the use of cultural resources as an intermediate consumption in the production process of non-cultural sectors, and thereby as a source of innovation.

This book covers the key-elements of the entrepreneurial dimension of the Cultural and Creative industries, with concepts and perspectives on Urban Area Development, Innovations and Educational perspectives. The authors cover 16 different countries, both in Europe, the America's and China.

Giep Hagoort is Professor Art and Economics at the Utrecht University and Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU). Aukje Thomassen is Associate Professor in Design and the Head of Research at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand School of Art+Design. Rene Kooyman is publicist and Managing Editor of the EU EACEA Research on The Entrepreneurial Dimension of Cultural and Creative Industries.