Creative Economy: A Feasible Development Option

5International trade in creative goods and services: Global trends and featuresChart 5.9(in billions of $)2520151050Table 5.11Economic group and regionHeritage goods: Exports, by economicgroup, 2002, 2005 and 2008DevelopedeconomiesDevelopingeconomies2002 2005 2008TransitioneconomiesSource: UNCTAD Database, based on official data reported toUN COMTRADE databaseArt crafts: Exports, by economic groupand region, 2002 and 2008Value (inmillions of $)World 17,503 32,323 85Developed economies 8,256 11,443 39Europe 6,206 9,220 49United States of America 1,443 1,531 6Japan 313 442 41Canada 238 187 -21Developing economies 9,202 20,715 125Eastern and South-Eastern Asia 8,079 16,200 101China 3,569 10,722 200Western Asia 560 1,887 237Latin America and Caribbean 430 671 56Africa 91 515 468LDCs 23 369 1,504SIDS 7 9 23Transition economies 45 164 264Source: UNCTAD, based on official data in UN COMTRADE databaseChange(%)2002 2008 2002-2008Defining and classifying art crafts is a complexexercise. 6 Art crafts have distinctive features and they can beutilitarian, aesthetic, artistic, creative, culturally attached,decorative, functional, traditional, and religiously and sociallysymbolic. 7 The value chain in art crafts production is intricatedue to the lack of formalized policies and often informalworkings; as a result, the classification of items is verysubjective. There is seldom a clear distinction between artisanhandmade work and machine-made production.Moreover, in some cases, it is difficult to identify significantdifferences between art crafts and visual arts or design. Inthis situation, this report is presenting first-hand figures forinternational trade in art crafts.In our view, it would make little sense to analyse thecreative economy from the development perspective withoutgiving due attention to art crafts, which are among the mosttraditional expressions of creativity and certainly the mostimportant creative industry for many developing countries.Our aim is to furnish some evidence of the importance ofan essential economic activity that is often disregarded anddisconnected from public policies. The art crafts constitutea genuine creative industry that should be supported andenhanced, particularly in the most disadvantagedcommunities. The production and internationaltrade of art crafts are vectors for job creation andexport earnings, and therefore are feasible tools forpoverty alleviation, the promotion of cultural diversityand the transfer of community-based skills.These are initial steps in an area that requires furtherresearch, analysis and policy interventions.International tradeArt craftsInternational trade in art crafts totalled$32 billion in 2008. The global market for artcrafts is expanding and clearly is not negligible;world exports increased 8.7 per cent, from $17.5billion to $32 billion, during the period 2002-2008. Art crafts are the most important creativeindustry for export earnings in developing countries,and a major one for developed countries aswell. Asia and Europe are the main exportingregions for art crafts.Art crafts products with greatest penetration inworld markets include carpets, celebration items, yarn productsand wickerwork. It is noteworthy that among the tenleading exporting economies, there are only four developingeconomies. Worldwide, China is the leading exporter of artisanproducts, with a strong product diversification. The evo-6 Terminology adopted by ITC and UNESCO defines artisan products as those produced by artisans either completely by hand or with the help of hand tools or even mechanicalmeans as long as the direct manual contribution of the artisan remains the most substantial component of the finished product. Artisan products can be classified in several categories,the six main ones being basket/wicker/vegetable fibre works; leather; metal; pottery; textiles; and wood.7 ILO (2003). Promoting the Culture Sector through Job Creation and Small Enterprise Development in SADC Countries.140 CREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT 2010