Arts and culture can play key roles in Europe‘s economic recovery – politicians, EU officials and arts experts attending the Prague Forum for Creative Europe on March 26^th and 27^th 2009 agreed. The conference was one of the key events of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation launched to promote creative thinking in Europe and help the EU catch up with the US, perceived to be ahead in terms of innovation. 

In 2006 the European Commission issued a study on the economic potential of culture for achieving the goals of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. The document showed that the creative industries are responsible for 2.5% of job creation and growing more quickly than traditional industries. The conclusions were incorporated into the European Agenda for Culture in a Globalising World, which underlines the importance of creativity for social and technological innovation, growth and job creation.

At the Prague Forum politicians and experts insisted the economic potential of art and culture should be exploited during the current crisis. Cultural industries stimulate marketing, communication, human resources and product development, Czech Culture Minister Václav Jehlička explained. The European Commission's director-general for education and culture Odile Quintin noted that creativity and innovation present a “new model for growth in the globalised world”. The Canadian economist Richard Florida also believes future economy will probably depend on creative thinking and innovation.

Indeed, Finland radically increased its research, development and innovation expenditures in the 1990s and today is one of the world’s most competitive economies. Among the leaders in capitalising on the economic and social potential of culture in Europe are the UK, the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, while Central and Eastern European member states lag behind somewhat, with culture still a low priority in their policymaking.

Sweden, taking over the EU Presidency in July, has chosen the motto 'Support for a creative generation', suggesting a focus on boosting children's creative skills. By autumn 2009 the European Commission intends to publish policy recommendations on the basis of its ongoing investigation on the economic potential of creative industries. 

Source: EurActiv, 3.4.2009