The report looks at the current state of the creative economy. It examines the evolving definition of the creative economy and its contribution to sustainable development. Based on a 2021 UNCTAD survey, the report shows how countries govern and promote their creative economies and what national strategies and policies they have implemented. The report looks at the latest data on international trade in creative goods and services and finds that trade in creative goods and services generates increasing revenues for countries, with services having a dominant role. The report presents different measurement frameworks for the creative economy, discusses measurement and data challenges, and presents case studies from developing countries. It also discusses how new and emerging technologies, especially increasing digitalization since the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to fundamentally changing creative industries. As requested by the General Assembly resolution 74/198, the report includes a special section on implementing the International Year of Creative Economy and how it advances the 2030 Agenda. The report notes that the concept and definition of the creative economy are diverse, representing countries' cultural diversity, but also due to different economic structures, statistical methodologies, and classification used. It encourages governments to recognize the importance of the creative economy by conceptualizing it based on existing definitions and classifications. The report highlights the importance for countries to map and measure the creative economy and industries, including their contribution to international trade.

Digital technologies have transformed the way many creative works are generated, disseminated and used. They have made cultural products more accessible, challenged established business models and the copyright system, and blurred the boundary between

This publication highlights the impact of culture on local economies and the methodological issues related to its identification.

The Future of Creative Work provides a unique overview of the changing nature of creative work, examining how digital developments and the rise of intangible capital are causing an upheaval in the social institutions of work. It offers a profound insight into how this technological and social evolution will affect creative professions.

As the world faces extreme economic, environmental and political crises, this bold and accessible Advanced Introduction argues for a future-facing approach to the creative economy and creative innovation. The book analyses contemporary and historical arts and culture whilst assessing historical shifts from national to global cultures; analogue to digital technologies; and individualist to systems thinking.

Creativity loosely refers to activities in the visual arts, music, design, film and performance that are primarily intended to produce forms of affect and social meaning. Yet, over the last few decades, creativity has also been explicitly mobilized by governments around the world as a ‘resource’ for achieving economic growth. The creative economy discourse emphasizes individuality, innovation, self-fulfillment, career advancement and the idea of leading exciting lives as remedies to social alienation. This book critically assesses that discourse, and explores how political shifts and new theoretical frameworks are affecting the creative economy in various parts of the world at a time when creative industries are becoming increasingly ‘industrialized.’ Further, it highlights how work inequalities, oligopolistic strategies, competitive logics and unsustainable models are inherent weaknesses of the industrial model of creativity. The interdisciplinary contributions presented here address the operationalization of creative practices in a variety of geographical contexts, ranging from the UK, France and Russia, to Greece, Argentina and Italy, and examine issues concerning art biennials, museums, DIY cultures, technologies, creative writing, copyright laws, ideological formations, craft production and creative co-ops.

The creative economy permeates our everyday lives, shaping where we live, what we buy, and how we interact with others. Looking at dimensions of people, place, policy, and market forces, the book offers a comprehensive perspective on arts and culture, in both economic and social life. The book explores the multifaceted components that make up this complex field. Underlying this journey is the throughline of diversity, equity, and inclusion as watchwords of today’s global paradigm. Capital, gentrification, pay disparities, and the hegemonic confines of cultural production are a few of the key issues analyzed. Using case studies and stories of artists and creatives from the worlds of fashion, design, music, and the media arts, the book also delves into gastronomy, literature, architecture, and theatre—presenting a nuanced look at the ways in which the creative sector impacts the world today. Readers will benefit from features such as key takeaways, discussion questions, and activities, throughout the chapters. Students, scholars, policymakers, and the general public will find this a valuable resource. This book offers the reader a chance not only to understand the cultural and creative industries, but to internalize its elements and embrace the creative spirit that imbues the sector.