EU/UNESCO holds a three-day workshop for “Designing a Creative Cluster Ecosystem in Georgia”

On 18 March 2022, Creative Georgia hosted a three-day workshop as part of the project “Designing a Creative Cluster Ecosystem in Georgia.” The event took place in Bakuriani in the premises of Adjara Group Holding. Since the success of creative clusters depends on the simultaneous involvement of public, private, and civil sectors, the workshop encompassed the representatives of different state- and governmental agencies, for-profit business entities and non-governmental organizations.

The aim of the event was to share and discuss the drafts of the main outcomes and strategic documents developed during this two-year-long large-scale research, led by international and national experts together with a financial consultant. In different thematic sessions, participants discussed stimulation mechanisms (e.g. fiscal policies and possible improvements on legislation related to corporate and individual philanthropy and the reduction of/exemption from value-added tax rate on cultural products/services, sectorial state funding programmes, etc.) which have direct and indirect effects on strengthening creative cluster ecosystems countrywide.

One of the main recommendations is the formation of a Creative Cluster Alliance, which should act as an umbrella organisation advocating for the needs of different members and organizations. During the last session of the workshop, participants were invited to contribute to the finalization of the cross-sectorial Action Plan for developing creative industries in Georgia. The Plan is being processed and will be publicly available on May 22, 2022, during the project’s final conference.