Culture is an enormous economic asset and source of creativity and innovation. Cultural industries have become high-capacity engines of economic growth, generating remarkable income and employment. However their potential is still under-estimated by political stakeholders. The aim of the Culture Platform on Cultural Industries is therefore to draw-up recommendations that can help to unlock the potential of the cultural and creative industries in Europe.  The platform consists of five working groups focussing on:

• Environment (in particular the regulatory environment)
• SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises)
• Circulation of Works and Artists and Interface “Creation Industry”
• Exchange and Export in a Globalised World

Working Group 1: Environment

The mandate of the working group on environment is to develop recommendations in respect of regulatory environment. Giving input for the improvement of the present European regulatory environment the working group wants to provide cultural actors with the tools to utilise their full potential in cultural, economic and social terms.

Working Group 2: SMEs

The overall objective of the Working Group on SMEs is to produce useful recommendations on how to create the best conditions guaranteeing cultural and creative SMEs the support they need to deliver their full potential as well in cultural and economic as in social terms.

Working Group 3 and 4: Circulation of Works and Artists and Interface “Creation Industry”

The two interlinked working groups on Circulation of Works and Artists and Interface “Creation Industry” seek the elaboration and advancement of structural mechanisms and tools which can facilitate investment that will develop and improve the circulation of works and artists.

Working Group 5: Exchange and Export in a Globalised World

The Working Group on Exchange and Export in a Globalised Wold brings together various organisations representing areas of operation of both artistic creation and practice on the one side and cultural entrepreneurship on the other, as it considers these two fields to be the heart of cultural and creative industries , and thus central to European Creative Economy. The mission of this working group is to compile valuable recommendations for stakeholders to improve policy structures in such a manner that they facilitate cultural entrepreneurship in our globalised world.

The platform on the Potential of Cultural and Creative Industries is planning practice exchange sessions in the following areas:

• Financing, access to finance, taxation
• Circulation/mobility
• Regional and local development
• Skills, education, professional training
• Digital distribution/promotion
• Working conditions

Find here the Platform on the potential of cultural and other creative Industries- Recommendations September 2009.