Friday | 29 Mar 2024

EMEA organized a meeting to explore the ecosystem of the cultural and creative sector (CCI) in the Mediterranean

The Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) organized a meeting under CREACT4MED (CReative Entrepreneurs ACTing FOR the future MEDiterranean) project on Monday 27 July 2020. This meeting is part of the CREACT4MED project Mapping activity, which aims to explore the CCI ecosystems of Southern Neighborhood Countries.

The CREACT4MED project, launched in March 2020 and led by EMEA with 4 partners [IEMED (Spain), BUSINESSMED (Tunisia), IED (Greece) and FEPS (Egypt)] aims to enhance the role of culture as a vector for employment and resilience in Southern Neighbourhood Countries (SNCs). This will be done through untapping the potential of the CCI to create economic value, enhance economic growth, create decent jobs and foster social inclusion, with a particular emphasis on youths and women and, thus, contributing towards strengthening economic, social and cultural resilience in the region. The role of CCI as a vector for employment and job creation needs to be carefully analysed and re-assessed in an era where the economy is hardly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially affecting cultural and creative activities.

CREACT4MED project builds on the research work conducted by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) and the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies (EMNES) in the past years on emerging socio-economic trends, challenges and needs in order to develop a renewed vision of socio-economic development in the South Neighbourhood Countries (SNCs). Research conducted in the SNCs resulted in a policy roadmap providing a comprehensive framework to formulate, implement and monitor a fully-fledged MSME policy and to mainstream the “Think Small First” principle in all policy areas relevant to the development of MSMEs in all sectors, including the cultural and creative industry (CCI).

This virtual meeting brings together experts, researchers and other stakeholders to exchange views and experiences on the CCI ecosystem in the region.

During the meeting, the call for the Technical  Expert Group on CCI and entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean is launched. The final composition will be announced in September 2020.