This impact study, carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Marlen Komorowski of the VUB’s SMIT, the Studies in Media, Innovation and Technology research group, paints a picture of the Brussels CCI sector just before the widespread disruption caused by COVID-19.
The sub-sectors analysed include:
- Audiovisual
- Software and video games
- Music, performing arts and visual arts
- Books and press
- Advertising and marketing
- Design and fashion
- Culture, art and heritage
- Event organisation
- Architecture
- Photography
Dr. Marlen Komorowski’s first clear observation is that these sectors and sub-sectors experienced, at least until the onset of the crisis, steady, above-average growth, with an annual average of 2.4% from 2017 to 2018, compared with 1.2% for the Brussels economy as a whole.
The cultural and creative sectors therefore make a vital contribution to the Brussels economy, generating EUR 3.2133 billion in net value added in 2018, representing 3.8% of the Brussels economy.
The study as a basis for recommendations on support for the sector
This analysis provides a baseline for assessing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in detail and determining the extent to which policy mechanisms can support the sector’s recovery.
Provided that an effective strategy to support Brussels’ CCIs is developed over the coming years, at regional, municipal and federal levels, we can expect positive outcomes such as job creation, the safeguarding of cultural diversity and inclusion, and the strengthening of Brussels’ international image as a creative capital.
Barbara Trachte, Secretary of State for Economic Transition, said:
“It is gratifying to see that the recommendations of this study have already been integrated into the Brussels regional CCI strategy. This is notably the case in terms of financing via the Crea.brussels call for projects or via Finance&invest.brussels which focuses on the CCIs in their strategic priorities. This is also the case thanks to the new cultural and creative industries platform, a place of dialogue and information which aims, among other things, to increase the sector’s visibility. Support and training are also at the heart of this strategy, which aims to further increase the economic importance of this sector, which is essential to Brussels’ appeal.”
Isabelle Grippa, Chief Executive Officer of hub.brussels, adds:
“We are delighted that this study confirms our intuition that cultural and creative entrepreneurship should at last be considered as an essential economic sector that should benefit from priority support.“
