Creative Economies: New Knowledge for New Initiatives

Aim of the project
The primary aim of the project is to gather knowledge/s on the bond between culture, creativity and the economy, i.e., meanings on the social inclusion aspects of the creative economies. The project, thus, aims at presenting and acknowledges the concept that foregrounds the cultural and creative resources and potentials as the basis of economic growth rather than budgetary expenditures.
Projected results. The project will encompass an education phase and an implementation phase, particularly in terms of positive practices that have come out of the education phase, thus aiming to instigate creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation amidst interested parties as a basis for realizing economic growth.
Description of the project
In the Republic of Macedonia, for the large part, creative and artistic practices are viewed as non-profitable activities that are mostly based on the principles of humanism and spirituality. As such, in turn, they are mostly treated as forms of ‘non-profitable interest’, since they are irreconcilable in terms of profit-centred economic logic. Contrary to this stance, in the world today, the same cultural and creative industries are seen as key factors in economic progress. For example, John Fiske has pointed out that during the past few decades, the profit associated with the creative industries in the US has surpassed that of the automobile industry. UK theoreticians and scholars have also analyzed the advantages that come when accepting creative practices as core to any and all economic progress. The Republic of Macedonia possesses creative potential that has not been fully utilized. With its natural resources, cultural heritage and creative human potential, it possesses enough resources to further develop the creative/cultural industries. In order for this sizable potential to be developed and effectuated, there is a need for new knowledge/s and new implementation of positive global practices.
Topics to be included:

• Becoming familiar with the key terms in creative economies;
• Setting cultural practices within the frames of the Creative Europe 2014-2020: Cultural Politics programme;
• Re-assessing the relationship between art and the economy, thus defining the good practices behind cultural industries;
• Culture/s as (a) social factor/s of economic growth, learning through examples (know-how practices);
• Forging links between the creative sector, the state budget and intellectual property rights;
• Examining the concept of creative industries in Europe, the US and Asia;
• Examining social conflicts and social development;
• Examining social capital
• Examining the consumer and entrepreneurial culture.

The special aim of this project rests on the implementation side; namely, not only to present and discuss theoretical concepts but also to have them implemented as a stepping stone towards the larger implementation process of good (positive) practices.
The Project’s Conveners: Professor Mishel Pavlovski, PhD (coordinator); Professor Dominic Power, PhD (lecturer), Professor Nada Švob – Ðokić, PhD (lecturer), Professor Loreta Georgievska-Jakovleva, PhD (lecturer)

The Project has been financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia.