Communities and Creativity: fostering economic resilience and innovation
Culture is what brings us together, and what brings us forward. The EU has strong and vibrant cultural and creative industries. These are not only essential for Europe's cultural diversity, social cohesion and international prestige. They also represent some of the most dynamic and productive sectors in Europe (see here for more) and harbour the potential to generate even more income, investment, employment and trade.
On 6 July, the EU Delegation to the UK, in partnership with the Aspen Institute UK, hosted a public event to explore the contribution of cultural industries to social cohesion and economic resilience. The panel consisted of diverse EU and UK voices:
Victoria Broackes, the Director of London Design Biennale. It last took place in June 2023. London Design Biennale offers a global stage for world-leading contemporary design and design led innovation, creativity and research and showcases the potential of design to respond to address the world’s greatest challenges.
Lisa Lang, the Director for EU Affairs & Policy Orchestrator for EIT Climate KIC and the Chair person for the Cultural & Creative Taskforce for UNFCCC United Nations Global Innovation Hub (UGIH). Lisa is a direct adviser for creative industries, digitalisation and entrepreneurship for the European Commission on several high-level advisory boards, including Pact for Skills, Industrial Forum and the US/EU Trade & Technology Council. She has gained recognition as one of Forbes Europe’s Top 50 Women in Tech, and has been listed as one of the 50 most important women for innovation & startups in the EU.
Kully Thiarai, the Creative Director and CEO of Leeds 2023 – the city’s international year of culture. Having worked with prestigious arts organisations across the UK, Kully is renowned for her bold and ground-breaking work in the performing arts. She has extensive experience of commissioning, producing, and directing work nationally and internationally. Kully’s work spans communities, cultures and performance styles; from large-scale epics to solo shows, from community residency programmes to strategic policy interventions, from nurturing talent through to leading change. In 2020 Kully won the Cultural Icon Award in the inaugural Northern Asian power list.
Paul Owens, the Co-Founder and Director of BOP Consulting, an International Arts & Cultural Consultancy specialising in culture and creative economy. As a dedicated advocate of the role culture can play in enhancing economic development outcomes, Paul established the World Cities Culture Forum to share best practice on promoting culture within urban policy in cities all over the world. Working with the Mayor of London’s team he has grown and managed a network of more than 40 major cities and an important independent soft power city network worldwide.
Opened by EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano, a rich and riveting discussion explored how European cultural and creative industries have the power to improve lives, transform communities, generate jobs and growth, and create spill-over effects into other sectors, ensuring that Europe remains the powerhouse of innovation. It was noted that, as Europe finds itself in a digital, social and ecological transition, culture and creativity harbour the new energy we need to tackle these challenges. You can read more about this event in Aspen UK's report here.
