Culture is playing an increasingly important role on the political agendas of cities and regions, both on its own and as a strategy for economic growth and the well-being of residents. 

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What's the issue? Cultural and creative sectors (CCS) constitute a vibrant economic activity and source of jobs, enterprise turnover and tax revenues. However, the role of culture for local development is more than these direct outputs. Culture and creativity transform local economies in various ways. They increase the attractiveness of places as destinations to live, visit and invest in. Smartly managed culture-led urban regeneration can breathe new life into decaying neighbourhoods. CCS also contribute to increasing levels of regional innovation and productivity, through new product design, new production techniques, new business models, innovative ways of reaching audiences and consumers, and emerging forms of co-production. Cross-sectoral “contamination” can spread innovation into the wider economy. Moreover, there is growing evidence that increased levels of cultural participation have positive effects on well-being and health as well as encourage social cohesion by supporting the integration and inclusion of marginalised groups.   What can the OECD offer? We work to provide evidence and guidance to cities and regions on ways to maximize the economic and social value of cultural heritage and support the emergence of the creative economy.

New report! Published on 24 February 2023

Video: The Culture Fix En Français | En español

 

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Culture and the creative economy in Lithuania and municipalities of Klaipėda, Neringa and Palanga Read more

Culture and the creative economy in Glasgow city region, Scotland, United Kingdom Read more

Culture and the creative economy in Emilia-Romagna, Italy Read more   ‌

Culture and the Creative Economy in Colombia: Leveraging the Orange Economy  Read more   ‌

 

AREAS OF WORK

Museums and local development The OECD-ICOM Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums aims to inform and support policy makers and the museum community in maximising the impact of culture and heritage on local development. Learn more

Creative industries This OECD project with support from EC aims to provide evidence and guidance to European cities and regions on ways to maximize the economic and social value of cultural heritage and support the emergence of the creative economy. Learn more

Capacity building and peer learning  Check our peer learning activities for cities and regions on ways to capitalise on the role of culture in the recovery Learn more   The OECD Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development provides training for policy makers and representatives of cultural and creative industries (CCIs). Learn more

 

Publications

In focus

• The Culture Fix: Creative people, places and industries (2022)
• Economic and social impact of cultural and creative sectors: Note for Italy G20 Presidency Culture Working Group (2021)
• Culture shock: COVID-19 and the cultural and creative sectors (2020)

 

Reviews

• Culture and the creative economy in Flanders, Belgium (2023)
• Culture and the creative economy in Lithuania and municipalities of Klaipėda, Neringa and Palanga (2023)
• Culture and the creative economy in Glasgow city region, Scotland, United Kingdom (2022)
• Culture and the Creative Economy in Colombia (2022)
• Culture and the creative economy in Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2022)

 

Toolkits and handbooks

• OECD-ICOM Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums - Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (2019) (Spanish, Italian, Korean)  
• Handbook - Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development |First edition  (2018)
• Museums and Local Development in the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy (2019)
• Museums and Local Development in Poland (2019)

Reports

• Maximising synergies between tourism and cultural and creative sectors: Discussion Paper for the G20 Tourism Working Group (2022)
• Culture and Local Development (2018)
• Review ACTORS Italy (2016) 
• Tourism and the Creative Economy (2014)
• The Impact of Culture on Tourism (2009)
• Culture and Local Development (2005) 

 

Blogs and podcasts

Is culture really good for you? impacts on well-being

 

 

 

PAST EVENTS

19-21 September 2022 | DIGITAL EVENT Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development | FIfth edition

3 June 2022| WEBINAR LAUNCH The Culture Fix: Creative People, Places and Industries

16 Dec 2021 | WEBINAR  Public and private finance for culture and creative sectors

1 December 2021 | WEBINAR Culture and creativity: From Emilia-Romagna to Europe and Beyond

26 November 2021 | WEBINAR Heritage, responsible cultural tourism, and sustainable development 

29 October 2021 | WEBINAR Heritage as a driver for new local creative entrepreneurship

27-30 September 2021 | DIGITAL EVENT: Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development | Fourth edition

26 May 2021 | WEBINAR: Cultural heritage and social cohesion: how to make the local community more cohesive and inclusive

25-26 February 2021 | WEBINAR: SME support ecosystems for Cultural and Creative Sectors 

27-28 January 2021 | WEBINAR: Increasing the job creation potential of Cultural and Creative Sectors 

27 January 2021 | WEBINAR: Covid-19 and Music & the Night Time Economy 

1-3 December 2020 | WEBINAR: Cultural participation and local resilience: Strategies for the recovery

15 May 2020| WEBINAR: Culture as a developmental driver for Italy in the post-Covid scenario

27-30 April 2020 | DIGITAL EVENT: Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development | Third edition

10 & 17 April 2020 | WEBINARS: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and cultural and creative sectors: impact, innovations and planning for post-crisis

26 November 2019 |  Venice, Italy: The impact of megatrends on tourism: International perspective and the case of Venice

26 September 2019 | Rome, Italy: Presentation of the OECD-ICOM Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums - Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact

1-7 September 2019 | Kyoto, Japan: ICOM Kyoto 2019 - 25th General Conference

16-20 June 2019 | Trento, Italy: Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development | Second edition

6-7 December 2018 | Venice, Italy: Conference on Culture and Local Development

6 November 2018 | Venice, Italy: Workshop on Funding Arts and Culture - The Role of Non-Public Institutions

12 July 2018 | Venice, Italy: Workshop on Culture and Well-Being - Defining the linkages

9 July 2018 | Paris, France: Experts' Group Meeting on Culture and Local Development - Maximising the Impact

21 June 2018 | Venice, Italy: Workshop on Measuring Creative Occupations in OECD Regions

15 June 2018 | Trento, Italy: Conference on CCIs Support Ecosystems as part of Smart Specialisation Strategy

11-15 June 2018 | Trento, Italy: Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development | First edition

20 December 2017 | Trento, Italy: Euregio Museum Day 2017: Museums & Local Development - Maximising the Impact

23 June 2017 | Milan, Italy: Roundtable on Fulfilling the Potential of Cultural and Creative Industries -  Reinforcing Linkages and Spill Overs 

3 June 2017 | Trento, Italy: Roundtable on Culture, Health and Well-being - 12th Festival of Economics

22 June, 2017 | Milan, Italy: Working group on Cultural Heritage as Catalyst of Local Development

11 April 2017 | Prague, Czech Republic: Round-table on Cultural heritage as Catalyst of Local Development

22 February 2017 | Bolzano, Italy: Debate on Culture-led and Smart Regeneration Strategies @ SSPCR 2017

Contact

For further information, please contact Ekaterina TRAVKINA.