Creative Economy: A Feasible Development Option

1Concept and context of the creative economyclassify these industries in domains, groups or categories. Yetdoing so would facilitate an understanding of the cross-sectoralinteractions as well as of the broad picture. This classificationcould also be used to provide consistency in quantitativeand qualitative analysis. It should be noted that all tradestatistics presented in this report are based on this classification.According to this classification, the creative industriescomprise four large groups, taking into account their distinctcharacteristics. These groups, which are heritage, arts, mediaand functional creations, are described in figure 1.3.UNCTAD definition of the creative industriesThe creative industries:■■■■■are the cycles of creation, production and distribution of goods andservices that use creativity and intellectual capital as primary inputs;constitute a set of knowledge-based activities, focused on but notlimited to arts, potentially generating revenues from trade and intellectualproperty rights;comprise tangible products and intangible intellectual or artisticservices with creative content, economic value and market objectives;stand at the crossroads of the artisan, services and industrial sectors;andconstitute a new dynamic sector in world trade.Figure 1.3Source: UNCTADUNCTAD classification of creative industriesVisual artsPaintings, sculptures,photography and antiquesPublishing andprinted mediaBooks, press andother publicationsDesignInterior, graphic,fashion, jewellery and toysCultural sitesArchaeological sites,museums, libraries,exhibitions, etc.Creative industriesCreative servicesArchitectural, advertising,creative R&D, cultural& recreationalTraditionalcultural expressionsArt crafts, festivalsand celebrationsPerforming artsLive music, theatre, dance,opera, circus, puppetry, etc.AudiovisualsFilm, television, radio,other broadcastingNew mediaSoftware, video games,digitized creative content■ Heritage. Cultural heritage is identified as the origin of allforms of arts and the soul of cultural and creative industries.It is the starting point of this classification. It isheritage that brings together cultural aspects from thehistorical, anthropological, ethnic, aesthetic and societalviewpoints, influences creativity and is the origin of anumber of heritage goods and services as well as culturalactivities. This group is therefore divided into twosubgroups:– Traditional cultural expressions: art crafts, festivals and celebrations;and– Cultural sites: archaeological sites, museums, libraries,exhibitions, etc.■ Arts. This group includes creative industries based purelyon art and culture. Artwork is inspired by heritage, identityvalues and symbolic meaning. This group is dividedinto two large subgroups:– Visual arts: painting, sculpture, photography andantiques; and– Performing arts: live music, theatre, dance, opera, circus,puppetry, etc.■ Media. This group covers two subgroups of media that producecreative content with the purpose of communicatingwith large audiences (“new media” is classified separately):– Publishing and printed media: books, press and other publications;and– Audiovisuals: film, television, radioand other broadcasting.HeritageArtsMediaFunctionalcreations■ Functional creations.This group comprisesmore demand-driven andservices-oriented industries creatinggoods and services with functionalpurposes. It is divided intothe following subgroups:– Design: interior, graphic, fashion,jewellery, toys;– New media: architectural, advertising,cultural and recreational,creative research and development(R&D), digital and otherrelated creative services.8 CREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT 2010