Creative Economics

Where

Costa Rica

When

2016

Who

Unit of Culture and Economics, Ministry of Culture and Youth

Key objectives of the measure:

The National Policy on Cultural Rights (PNDC) 2014-2023 contains a series of strategic lines of action. Action number 2 "Economic Revitalization of Culture" includes the subject of "Creative Economics" to encourage creativity and cultural production locally, nationally and regionally in connection with social and economic development processes. This concept is understood as the economic sector involved in the generation of ideas and knowledge, as well as creative goods and services in a context of technological innovation and change. Creative economics focuses on stimuli that include the promotion and development of creativity in its most diverse forms, facilitating new spaces for cultural creation.

In this sense the PNDC seeks to stimulate cultural creativity, including heritage, both material and intangible, cultural sites, and traditional cultural expressions, art in all its manifestations, media including audiovisuals and printed media and the design of new technologies and functional creations including creative services in a framework of inclusion, diversity, innovation, solidarity and defense of Cultural Rights.

The strategy used by the Ministry of Culture and Youth meant created the Unit of Culture and Economics (UCE), which began operating in 2014 with the general objective of generating the conditions to create and enable Costa Rican creative and cultural industries and undertakings through coordinated and articulated efforts at the institutional and interinstitutional levels, with the private sector and civil society,aimed at sectorial growth and local and national sustainable development.

Scope of the measure:

Local, Regional, National

Nature of the measure:

institutional

Main feature of the measure:

Through national and international workshops, the Creative Economics component of the Ministry of Culture and Youth has promoted the creation of public-private Working Groups (academia, businesses, government) to strengthen cultural sectors, beginning with the Audiovisuals and Music sectors. In a participatory process, the two latter developed Strategic Competitiveness Plans to promote a greater participation of audiovisual and music companies and their outputs in the national and international markets, with quality and profitability.

The Caribbean Cultural Corridor of the UCE has been working on the creation of cultural undertakings and community culture management to strengthen and highlight the cultural potential of residents in Cahuita, Tortuguero and Downtown Limón, along the Caribbean coastline. These actions are aimed at exponents and bearers of traditions including music bands, calypsonians, dressmakers, artisans, painters, specialists in traditional gastronomy and dance of the region.

Results expected through the implementation of the measure:

The National Culture Survey (ENC) 2013, another component of the Unit of Culture and Economics was a milestone in the generation of cultural statistics, interviewing 7,242 residents (over the age of five years) in 2,792 households throughout the country. The survey provides valid and timely statistical information on the uses and preferences of the population concerning products, activities and cultural spaces, technological devices and Internet, traditions, cultural formation, cultural practices and access to the cultural offer available in Costa Rica.

Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

No financial resources have been allocated to implement this measure.

Main conclusions of the evaluation of the measure:

The Culture Satellite Account of the UCE is an information system that describes Costa Rican culture in economic terms and shows its contribution to the economic growth and comprehensive development of the country. The areas measured to date are: Editorial, Audiovisual, Advertising, Design, and Artistic and Cultural Education, producing indicators on value added (cultural GDP), employment, production, foreign trade, among others.

Indicators used to determine impact:

The Cultural GDP Indicator.The Performing Arts and Music sectors are currently being measured (2015). The value added of culture to the national economy in 2012, considering all five sectors, was slightly over 452.09 billion colones (US$898 million), 2% of the total GDP. This is equivalent to the four principal crops (coffee growing and processing, and banana, pineapple and sugar cane growing) , and very close to the 2.1% contributed by power generation and distribution in 2012. For that same year, cultural production from the five sectors practically doubled to 851.56 billion colones and cultural employment generated 31.407 jobs, representing 1.6% of the overall formal workforce.

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Goal(s) of UNESCO's 2005 Convention

Area(s) of Monitoring

Culture in sustainable development frameworks

National sustainable development policies and plans

Cultural Domain(s)

Multi-domain

Creative Economics

Goal(s) of UNESCO's 2005 Convention

Area(s) of Monitoring

Cultural Domain(s)

Other measures from this goal

Other measures from the same country

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