Definition

Creative industries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The phrase creative industries (or sometimes creative economy) refers to a set of interlocking industry sectors that focus on creating unique property, content or design that previously did not exist. Economic contributions from creative industries have been increasing, particularly as manufacturing industries have become increasingly automated and process-driven. The economic contributions are often cited as being a growing part of the global economy.

Creative industries typically include industries that focus on: creating and exploiting intellectual property products such as music, books, filmand games; or providing business-to-business creative services including advertising, public relations and direct marketing. Aesthetic live-performance experiences are also generally included, which contributes to an overlap with definitions of art and culture, and even aspects oftourism and sport. Economic activities focussed on designing, making and selling objects or works of art such as jewellery, haute couture, books of poetry and other creative writing, and fine art are often included in the sector because the value of such objects derives from a high degree of aesthetic originality.

Creative industries exclude, and contrast with, industries that derive value by transferring ownership of pre-existing property (such as retail, financial-services and real-estate industries), by making a commoditised product or service (such as auto-manufacturing and electric-utility industries), and by maintaining or enhancing what already exists (such as the auto-repair industry).

While the concept of the creative class and creative economy have been quite controversial since their begnings, currently even the UN is using it for some economic reports. See for example the UN Creative Economy Report 2008^[1]

The study „The Economy of Culture in Europe“ commissioned by the European Commission in 2006 has been the starting point of a quick political revaluation of the Creative Industries in Europe and its member states. This development started 2007 with the decision of the European cultural ministers in Berlin to place emphasis on the Creative Industries during the German EC-Presidency, was followed by the conference “Cultural and Creative Industries in Europe” in May and finally resulted in the council conclusions for the Creative Industries on May 24th/25th.

Furthermore the European Commission adopted the first ever European strategy for culture, also implementing a new role for the Creative Industries. In the future, policies in the cultural field will involve the cultural sector more strongly, ranging from individual artists and performers to the creative and cultural industries… The European Commission therefore seeks to introduce improved structures for dialogue and partnership with these stakeholders through a new "Cultural Forum". www.european-creative-industries.eu

Creative industry must help to contribute growth

WRITTEN BY ZEN

THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 2009 22:38

Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, the Information Minister has called for a restructuring and expansion of the creative industry to help in contributing to the country’s growth. He said "It is difficult to define this industry because it is different from the manufacturing and construction industry where we can see the physical results. The end product of human creativity can only be linked to the contribution it makes to the country's economic growth and the creation of job opportunities and income for those involved in the field. But if carefully structured and expanded, it can become a big industry. This is what is lacking in our country. Our society is creative but this field has yet to become an industry. We don't know how much the creative industry in our country contributes to the GDP. Some say it's not even one per cent, so it's difficult for us to gauge. The potential's there but it's not being developed," -Zen, MalaysiaToday