EMEA is lead partner of the EU funded CREACT4MED project that aims to strengthen businesses and entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the Southern Neighbourhood of the EU, with a particular focus on young people and women.
As leaders of the project, EMEA has created a Data Observatory to collect and show reliable available data on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) under one dashboard in the CREACT4MED target countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, plus Algeria and Israel, as well as providing a regional perspective. It covers a broad definition of CCI stretching from gastronomy to performing arts, to gaming and music, to advertising and fashion. It was officially launched at the CREACT4MED Annual Conference 2022 by Dr Yeganeh Forouheshfar, Researcher at EMEA.
The dashboard is composed of two main and one auxiliary pillars:
1st main pillar) CCI contribution to the economy: in this pillar we gather information on the contribution of the underlying sector to economic activity, in terms of value added, job creation, and exports as well as imports.
2nd main pillar) CCI enablers: in this pillar we collect information on factors which can enhance the development of CCI underlying sectors such as policy and legislation, cultural and digital infrastructure as well as information on the status of Intellectual Property (IP) in the target countries.
The auxiliary pillar) Sectoral perspective: In this pillar we present information on specific sectors such as film making, media, music industry etc.
Dr Forouheshfar highlighted that CCI are important for the economy, but they are also important for the social ecosystem. CCI is not viewed by public bodies as crucial and high value economic sector, furthermore, young people don’t view working in the CCI as a viable career path, but we can change that by mainstreaming creative skills and sectors. The Data Observatory can be used to influence economic policy in this sense by providing an understanding of how CCI currently contributes to the Mediterranean economies. You can view the Data Observatory at the CREACT4MED website under the Resources page.
CREACT4MED is a project funded by the EU through the EuropeAid Programme, and seeks to strengthen CCI ecosystems in the MENA region and unleash the full potential of CCI to create empowered and flourishing societies. It aims to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs, create jobs, and foster sustainable economic growth in the Southern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on young people and women.
It is led by Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) (Coordinator), with the partners Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED), European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED), Redstart Tunisia, Confédération méditerranéenne pour le développement (MED Confederation), Beyond Group, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA Università), Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME), Positive Agenda Advisory, and Womenpreneur.
